familiar shortening of masc. proper name Thomas, used by late 14c. as a type of a nickname for a common man (as in Tom, Dick, and Harry, 1734). Applied 17c. as a nickname for several exceptionally large bells. Short for Uncle Tom in the sense of "black man regarded as too servile to whites" is recorded from 1959. Tom Walker, U.S. Southern colloquial for "the devil" is recorded from 1833. Tom and Jerry is first attested 1828 and later used in many extended senses, originally were the names of the two chief characters (Corinthian Tom and Jerry Hawthorn) in Pierce Egan's "Life in London" (1821); the U.S. cat and mouse cartoon characters debuted 1940 in "Puss Gets the Boot." Tom Thumb (1570s) was a miniature man in popular tradition before P.T. Barnum took the name for a dwarf he exhibited. Tom-tit "titmouse" is from 1709. Compare tomcat.
雙語例句
1. Congressman Tom Downey is a Democrat from New York.
國會議員湯姆·唐尼是來自紐約州的一名民主黨人。
來自柯林斯例句
2. Tom admits that playing video games sometimes distracts him from his homework.
湯姆承認(rèn)玩電子游戲有時會使他無心做作業(yè)。
來自柯林斯例句
3. Come on, Bill. Send Tom a card and make his day.
來吧，比爾。給湯姆寄張卡片讓他高興高興吧。
來自柯林斯例句
4. Pattie shot Tom in a fit of jealous rage.
帕蒂妒火中燒，開槍擊中了湯姆。
來自柯林斯例句
5. They say "Tom, shut up" and I go "No, you shut up"