gyrene
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English
[edit]
Etymology
[edit]Uncertain. First attested 1894 in a list of United States Naval Academy slang, where it remained in use at least until 1925. Widely adopted during the Second World War. Often stated to be a blend of GI + marine, but early uses antedate both the widespread adoption of the term GI (c. 1910) and its use to denote individuals (c. late 1930s).[1]
Possibly related to Royal Navy slang gerine (“a marine”), though gyrene antedates it in print. gerine is sometimes given as a clipping of tangerine, in reference to the color of the tunics worn by the Royal Marine Light Infantry, but U.S. Marines' uniforms did not have such a color.[2]
Noun
[edit]gyrene (plural gyrenes)
- (informal) A member of the United States Marine Corps.