This definition of Yankee comes from the soon to be published Local History Encyclopedia (AltaMira Press and AASLH): PalatinoYankee: PalatinoThe origin of this word is murky. In 1683, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, Yankee was in use in England as a surname, possibly of Dutch origin. British soldiers in the New World colonies used it as a term of contempt, however, thereafter it came to mean a New Englander. After the Battle of Lexington, New Englanders began to use the word themselves, even making up a mythical band of Indians, the Yankos (meaning Invincibles) from which they claimed the word came. The word was often used by southerners about those north of the Mason Dixon line, often with negative overtones. Yankee was often preceded by epithets, especially "damned." In addition, during the two world wars the term "Yanks" was used by Europeans to describe all Americans. For a more detailed discussion of the word, see "Yankee" in Stephen Thernstrom, editor, *Harvard Encyclopedia of American Ethnic Groups (Cambridge, Mass., 1980).