UNCLE SAM • FREE TRANSLATOR.ORG • Definition of Uncle Sam

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/ˈəŋkəl sæm/ Listen

noun

Uncle n.

The brother of one's father or mother; also applied to an aunt's husband; the correlative of aunt in sex, and of nephew and niece in relationship.

A pawnbroker. (Slang)

An eldery man; used chiefly as a kindly or familiar appellation, esp. (Southern U. S.) for a worthy old negro; as, "Uncle Remus." (Colloq.) "Plain old uncle as he (Socrates) was, with his great ears, an immense talker."

My uncle, a pawnbroker. (Slang)

Uncle Sam, a humorous appellation given to the United States Government. See Uncle Sam, in Dictionary of Noted Names in Fiction.

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Etymology of 'Uncle Sam'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Uncle sam" Quotes from Famous Books

... of rough weather. The largest ocean liners ride here safe from the storms that pound sometimes against the outer coast line; for its waters compose one great harbor, protected by the forests and mountains. One may see "Uncle Sam's" powerful fighting machines almost any day steaming toward Bremerton, one of the U. S. Naval Stations, where the largest dry dock owned by the U. S. ...

— The Beauties of the State of Washington - A Book for Tourists • Harry F. Giles

... the army was being effected at the time Uncle Sam was called to fight for humanity, and only an approximation of the condition can be made, for about two-thirds of the National Guard had been taken into the regular service incident to the trouble with ...

— Kelly Miller's History of the World War for Human Rights • Kelly Miller

... but very little safety, whilst occupying their position. None was left but us in this country till you cattlemen come monopolizing Heaven and earth. Knowing we got just as much right to this cove as Uncle Sam himself, we expect to stay here at anchor till Lahoma steams out into the big world with sails spread. She expects to tug us along behind her—but I don't know, I'm afraid we'd draw heavy. Until that time comes, however, we 'lows to lay to, in this harbor. We feels sheltered. Nothing ain't more ...

— Lahoma • John Breckenridge Ellis

... ended de Mahster moved us to Miller County, but not on de Adams farm. For de man whut used to own de farm said Uncle Sam hadn't made any such money as wuz paid him for de farm, so he wanted his farm back. Dat Confederate money wuzn't worth de paper it wuz printed on, so de Mahster had to gib him back de farm. Poor Massa Ogburn—he didn't live ...

— Slave Narratives: Arkansas Narratives - Arkansas Narratives, Part 6 • Works Projects Administration

... not help laughing at this Kentucky bull, but at the same time we were compelled to admit the truth of what Doughby meant to say. In spite of Uncle Sam's usual phlegm and nonchalance, there are occasions when he seems to change his nature; and in the anxiety to see his ship first at the goal, to forget what he does not otherwise easily lose sight of, namely, wife and child, land and goods; ...

— Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine -- Volume 57, No. 351, January 1845 • Various

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