"Canuck" is a slang term for Canadians.

History

The term was coined in the 19th century, although its etymology is unclear. Possibilities include:

• kanata "village" (See Canada)
• Canada + -uc (Algonquian noun suffix)
• Canada + -inuk (Inuit for "man")
• Connaught, an obscure term for Irish-French-Canadians.

Meaning

The Random House Dictionary notes that: "The term Canuck is first recorded about 1835 as an Americanism, originally referring specifically to a French Canadian. This was probably the original meaning, though in Canada and other countries, Canuck now more often refers to any Canadian."

Usage and examples

The use of "Canuck" by Canadians themselves is usually affectionate or patriotic.

The history and use of the term include:

• The Vancouver Canucks hockey team
• The Canada national rugby union team Canucks
• The Crazy Canucks, a group of Canadian alpine ski racers who dominated the World Cup circuit in the '70s.
• Johnny Canuck, a personification of Canada who appeared in early political cartoons of the 1860s resisting Uncle Sam's bullying. Johnny Canuck was revived in 1942 by Leo Bachle to defend Canada against the Nazis.
• In 1975 in comics by Richard Comely, Captain Canuck is a super-agent for Canadians' security, with Redcoat and Kebec being his sidekicks. (Kebec is claimed to be unrelated to Capitaine Kébec of a French-Canadian comic published two years earlier.) Captain Canuck had enhanced strength and endurance thanks to being bathed in alien rays during a camping trip. The captain was reintroduced in the mid-1990s, and again in 2004.
• Operation Canuck was the designated name of a British SAS raid led by a Canadian captain, Buck McDonald in January 1945.
• "The Dark Canuck" is a song on The Tragically Hip's album In Violet Light.
• In 1995, Canada Post released 45-cent postage stamps depicting Johnny Canuck and Captain Canuck.
• "Canuck" is a nickname for the Curtiss JN4 and Avro CF-100 aircraft.
• One of the first uses of "Canuck" — in the form of "Kanuk" — specifically referred to Dutch Canadians as well as the French.
• "Canuck" also has the derived meanings of a Canadian pony (rare) and a French-Canadian patois (very rare).
• Team Canuck is a small-sized team at RoboCup.
• North Plainfield High School Canucks, is the mascot of this High School in New Jersey.
• "Canuck Rubber", a reference to Canadian Tire stores.

The use of "Canuck" parallels that of some other potentially offensive nicknames, that is, when used by the people it names — Canadians in this case — it is usually acceptable. But when used by an outsider — in this case particularly Americans — it can be misinterpreted and deemed as insulting one's heritage (though rarely credibly so for Canuck). Although it is not as severe as most ethnic slurs, some consider it one - just as Yankee can be.