n., pl. -mies.Brit. (sometimes cap.) a British soldier. [1880–85; short for Tommy Atkins]
Tommy Atkins
Tommy Atkins
A British soldier. The term originated in manuals once sent to British soldiers, in which the name used as an example was "Tommy Atkins" (as opposed to "John Doe"). In his younger years, my grandfather was a Tommy Atkins.See also: tommy