noun General Slang

Tom

· noun · military

A British Army private soldier — from Tommy Atkins.

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Definitions

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A British Army private soldier — especially in the Parachute Regiment and infantry, where 'the Toms' means the lads, the rank and file. Counterpart to 'Rupert' for officers. Used inside the regiment with pride: the Toms are the ones who actually do the fighting.

“The Toms had been on the ground for forty-eight hours with no sleep before the relief came in.”
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Tom In A Sentence

The Toms had been on the ground for forty-eight hours with no sleep before the relief came in.

Origin & Usage

From 'Tommy Atkins,' the generic name used on sample British Army paperwork from the early 1800s — became the universal nickname for the British private soldier through the Victorian era, WWI, and beyond. 'Tom' is the shortened modern Para and infantry usage.

Variants TomsTommy
Tags #military#british-army#infantry#uk

People Also Ask

What does Tom mean in the British Army?

A 'Tom' is a British Army private soldier.

Where does the term Tom come from?

It derives from 'Tommy Atkins,' the traditional generic name for a British soldier.

How do you use Tom in a sentence?

For example: 'The Toms were out on the ranges all week.'

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