Englishmen

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Men from England who identify with its culture or nationality; individuals who possess English citizenship or heritage regardless of their current residence; or representatives of England in a historical or military context, such as during colonial times
2. Adult males associated with England, often viewed in terms of cultural identity or civic responsibilities; those who may have roots in England but live elsewhere; or historically, soldiers and travelers linked to English endeavors abroad
3. Adult males hailing from England or identifying with Englishness; individuals holding English nationality or descent living in different regions; or figures relevant to English history or significant events linked to the nation

Etymology: "Englishmen" is simply the plural of "Englishman," so its history is that of the singular form. The singular is built from "English," the adjective meaning of or belonging to England, plus "man," which in Old English meant a human being of either sex as well as an adult male. Attaching "man" to a nationality or place to name a native of that place is a long-standing English pattern, the same one behind "Frenchman" and "Scotsman." The plural follows the regular pattern of "man" becoming "men," an irregular plural inherited from Old English and shared with words like "woman" and "child"-related forms such as "children." Because the noun simply describes people from England, its sense has widened over time to cover heritage and citizenship as well as birthplace, which is why the plural can refer to a group defined by culture or nationality rather than residence alone.

Synonyms: Britons, English people