General
tom
What does tom mean?
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."
Origin
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.
Frequently asked questions
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.'
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Vocabulary Flow — saved to your collection.
