Where did the Name 'Jarhead' come from and why does it refer to US Marines?
540096
I think I heard it's because of the haircut the Marines get.  They end up looking like a "jarhead"
993096
It's origins began in the middke ages. The reason a lt. Gen out ranks a major general is because a major gen used to be called a sgt major general.
610444
The Marine Corps\n\nFirst to Fight, last to leave, the Marine Corps has the honor of being the premiere fighting force.  Marines pride themselves on Espirit de Corps - the Spirit of the Corps, and honor their traditions and history beyond any other branch of the military. The Marines were born November 10, 1775 in Tun Tavern in Philadelphia.  (Figures we'd be born in a bar)  \n\nMarines are hard fighters, hard drinkers, earning the name 'Teufel Hunden' or Devil Dogs from the Germans during the Battle of Baleau Woods during WWII.   Marines are also called 'Leathernecks' from the strip of leather worn across the throat during colonial times, to protect their throats from sabers.  The red stripes on the sides of trousers worn by NCO's (non-commission officers) are called 'Blood stripes' in honor of the blood shed by other Marines.\n\nAnd how do I know the Marines are the best?  Any Marine could recite to you everything I just wrote!\n\nSemper Fi!
726125
Well it does come from the song Yankee Doodle Dandy but the question is where does Yankee come from. You Yanks called us Limeys and that is because our sailors used to eat limes to protect against scurvy on their long sea voyages.\nBTW the Cockney (London Dialect) for a Yank is a  "Septic" from "Septic Tank" which in true Cockney rhyming slang  form the "Tank" rhymes with Yank but the first un-rhyming part is used, Apple and Pears meanind Stairs becomes Apples, Currant Bun meaning Sun becomes Currant,Frog and Toad meaning  Road becomes Frog.\nSo 'the Septic went up the Apples and had a Lemon' translates to 'the Septic Tank went up the Apple and Pears to have a Lemon Squash' i.e. 'the Yank went up the stairs and had a wash!'. Whole conversations can be had using Cockney rhyming slang!!\nGuess it doesn't answer your question but goes to show how bizarre our language is!
1044632
Are you asking if that's really what they call themselves?  If so yea, marines are jarheads, navy is squids, and I honestly don't know the other.
634638
The origin of the Clippers' name is very obscure, but I know how it came about.  A group of male hairdressers from SF joined a local BB league.  They wanted a name that sounded strong and intimidating but still reflected their roots in hair styling - hence Clippers.  Unfortunately they never won a game and were forced to move to LA.  They also had to give up the pink and yellow jerseys.\n\nOK seriously, they're named after a type of sailing boat.  The clipper is a fast and nimble boat, usually used by merchants.  The LA Clippers were formally the SD Clippers.  Since SD was right on the ocean and was (at the time) the biggest port in CA, it only made since to name them after a familiar object.  Besides, how could you name a BB team the San Diego Missions or the SD Zoologists.
752850
The United States Marines.\nThe USN helped too.\nT. Jefferson saw to it.
1091223
The Marines were part of a peace organization. They were caught in the middle of it all when they bombed the barracks killing our great men. I will never forget the date of Oct 22,1983 for I left for basic training Oct 23,1983. I was signed in on a Delayed Enlistment Program(DEP) that I signed while still in high school in April of 1983.
867503
it's oo-rah for the Marines the army uses Hooah (not sure of spelling but since they're not actually words they don't have official spellings.)  I was in the Army, my sister is a Marine and my brother-inlaw (my sisters husband) is in the Navy.
203836
The term "jarhead" as referring to a Marine comes from the same thing that gave them the nickname "leathernecks" -- the leather collars on some of their uniforms.\n\nBefore rubber was commonly available, the rings used to seal canning jars were made of leather. So the implication is that the Marine's leather collar is akin to the leather sealing rings once used on canning jars, making him, litterally, a "jar head."
24109
The origin of the term is disputed. One theory customarily held by persons not from New England claims that it originated from the Dutch in old New Amsterdam (today known as New York City) in the Mid-Atlantic States. It then was adopted by the British as a pejorative for (Northern) colonists. The origin might have been the phrase Jan Kees ("John Cornelius") (two very common Dutch names), which the English-speaking people picked up as "yankees", a word they used to refer to the Dutch.
772413
Merely has to do with tradition, it has nothing to do with size.  Take a look at something like Camp Pendelton in California, its huge.\n\nThe Army, being the first main service, called thier bases Forts, and it stuck.\n\nThe Marine Corps normally doesn't stay in one place.  They began as security aboard naval vessels, but as they progressed into their own service, they took on more tasks.  These tasks normally led them to land, where they would make camps.  They would not stay for long, and so the term camp continues as tradition.
388773
I think it was Americas way of throwing a tantrum, like a five year old would. Also the freedom represents the "freedom" we are giving to Iraq, and sense the French isn't supporting that then they don't deserve to be things named after them. So did that trend ever really catch on? I don't think I have used it once.
129068
First, Marines are NOT soldiers.  No disrespect intended, but we do not like the term.  Soldiers are in the U.S. Army.  Secondly, when I went to boot camp, nearly 20 years ago, we had extensive training on Marine Corps history.  Smedley Butler was celebrated in song when we marched, ran, or worked out.  I would be surprised if the same is no longer true.\nThank you for honoring a true American hero.
870956
"Semper Fi!" Yelled Lt. Johnson as he opened his wall-locker to uncover the black dress shoes that adorned a fresh coat of spit and polish.\n\nJohnson had joined the Marines after reading the "A Few Good Men" recruiting poster, and was eager to serve his country. Johnson, a fith generation military man did as his great grandfather had done before, or how goes the cow.\n\nOf English decent his great grandfather was destined to wear the uniform of a Marine and told Johnson that he was destined to be a Marine "All me bloomin' life, sir!"\n\nLt. Johnson also remembers the stories from his grandfather who was aboard the USS Missouri on the "Day that will live in Infamy" December 7, 1941.
850522
The ROYAL Marines (marines are some fake US outfit..) Are principally based near Britain's major Naval ports I expect because of the history. They were effectively the on board police force for the Royal Navy many moons ago. I am not sure if still the case, but on board ship they always had their quarters close to the Officers. It would be natural therefore to have them based  near Navy bases. The concentration down South could be because our major sea ports for the Royal Navy were Plymouth and Portsmouth.
214353
Hope this helps:\n\n"All of the current rank titles originated in Europe during the Middle Ages, the Dark Ages. The continent was under the thumb of a feudal society and warfare was the way of life. Lords battled for their sovereigns to gain loot, land and fame. Knights fought for their liege lords for loot, shelter and a measure of loyalty. The common folk went to war for their landlord because they had no choice in the matter. This was long before private, professional armies or nationalistic fervor. If you wanted somewhere to live and something to eat you either fought or became a priest. \n\nPrivate:  having attained no title of rank, a 'private soldier'.  \nCorporal:  influenced by 'corps'; head, chief.  \nSergeant:  servant; attendant upon a knight in the field.  \nLieutenant:  an officer representing and exercising powers on behalf of his lord or sovereign.  \nCaptain:  an officer entrusted with a command or fort under a sovereign or general.  \nColonel:  an officer commanding a 'column' of soldiers and support trains.  \nGeneral:  originally meant to be of similar 'birth' or 'class' with the sovereign; the more recent use is to be familiar with all facets of the army, no longer a specialist in one area, a 'general officer'."\n\n\nOh yeah, in case any marines are wondering where "Lance Corporal" came from, back then infantry were known as "Lances" while Corporals rode on horseback. When a corporal was struck from his horse somehow and the horse was no longer rideable or ran off, they would join the ranks of the infantry. They were still of superior rank but did the same jobs as the lances, they were then known as Lance Corporals to distinguish them from the others.