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.
实用例句
1. Congressman Tom Downey is a Democrat from New York.
国会议员汤姆·唐尼是来自纽约州的一名民主党人。
来自柯林斯例句
2. Tom admits that playing video games sometimes distracts him from his homework.
汤姆承认玩电子游戏有时会使他无心做作业。
来自柯林斯例句
3. Come on, Bill. Send Tom a card and make his day.
来吧，比尔。给汤姆寄张卡片让他高兴高兴吧。
来自柯林斯例句
4. Pattie shot Tom in a fit of jealous rage.
帕蒂妒火中烧，开枪击中了汤姆。
来自柯林斯例句
5. They say "Tom, shut up" and I go "No, you shut up"
