[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

Re: Origin of the word "tank" (military)



Bill Jackson wrote:

> We have Motorcycling and Bicycling (1/15/17 issue), which claims that the
> World War I era British tanks were so named because they were shaped
almost
> exactly like the gas tanks found on many motorcycle brands of the period.

The conventional wisdom on this subject is that, for reasons of military
secrecy, the first "tanks" were shipped across the English Channel in large
cartons that were also used to ship water tanks.  The "tank" stencils on the
outside of the cartons was retained, and the name stuck to the new armored
vehicles.

Your mileage may vary.

Mark Stauter
Western Historical Manuscript Collection-Rolla
mstauter@umr.edu

A posting from the Archives & Archivists LISTSERV List!

To subscribe or unsubscribe, send e-mail to listserv@listserv.muohio.edu
      In body of message:  SUB ARCHIVES firstname lastname
                    *or*:  UNSUB ARCHIVES
To post a message, send e-mail to archives@listserv.muohio.edu

Or to do *anything* (and enjoy doing it!), use the web interface at
     http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/archives.html

Problems?  Send e-mail to Robert F Schmidt <rschmidt@lib.muohio.edu>