The word is a derogatory term used to describe Americans by the Brits, Canadians, Australians and the like; but in the USA used to define an American from the Northern States in the USA, such as New England and the Mid-West.

It was most notably used to describe to the Federal Solders and other Northerners by the Confederates during the Civil War Era. Even though some foreigner’s refer to all American’s as Yankees, does not make it so. Call a Southerner a Yankee and he’ll think you’re either just plain dumb or that you are trying to pick a fight.

The characteristics often associated with a stereotypical Yankee are shrewdness, thrift, craftiness, rudeness, arrogance, and loudness.

To foreigners, a Yankee is an American.
To Americans, a Yankee is a Northerner.
To Easterners, a Yankee is a New Englander.
To New Englanders, a Yankee is a Vermonter.
And in Vermont, a Yankee is somebody who eats pie for breakfast
by OneBadAsp October 15, 2006
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Their are three types of yankees:
1)Yankee-Someone who was born and still lives in the north.
2)Damn Yankee- Someone born in the north who moves to the south with intentions on moving back up north.
3)GD Yankee- Someone born in the north who moves to the south with intentions of staying in the south.
by Whitetrash SOB June 18, 2009
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Originally a term used by dutch settlers in america to refer to anyone who wasn't from holland, this was then used as a derogatory term by the british in the american war of independance and later by confederate americans as a derogatory term for those in support of "the Union" generally speaking northerners. later the term was used by pretty much any non american to refer to an american though particularly from the northern states.
did you see those yankees down the beach today?
by Icewolf53 June 16, 2010
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1. Slang Term for an American Northerner used in the US, in other parts of the world, slang for American.

2. A Japanese juvenile delinquent, usually with bleached hair and part of a youth gang.

1: "Bloody Yankee! Who does he think he is, cutting to the front of the queue?"

2: "Watch out for that Yankee Chick. I heard she bashed some guy's head in for looking at her funny."
by driftgunner July 20, 2008
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A term and nickname created by Southerners and Confederate Civil War soldiers for a person who is from the North (Midwest/Northeast). It was especially given to Union soldiers who fought in the American Civil War, usually having to go into into The South in order to engage the enemy in combat. The Union forces invading Southern territory and also incidents where a few groups of soldiers pillaged and destroyed property and people's lives resulted in making this nickname derogatory by some.
Northerners and Midwesterners get called "Yankees" a lot by many Southerners.
by The Bush Fan March 18, 2005
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Professional sporting term used to describe a team that once held a significant lead on an opponent in a game or series, only to lose in dramatic fashion; Synonym of 'choked' ; Also see: MLB's 2004 American League Championship Series
Steve: I can't believe the Seahawks won, they were losing by 14 points with 5 minutes to go! Joe: I know... Packer's really Yankeed that game!
by ElmCityMan January 20, 2015
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