[HPFGU-OTChatter] Re: What's "Cor" mean

[Sharon Hayes]

Sharon> We call ex-pats "Poms" which has something to do with Pomeranian--not
> the dog type, but something to do with the military I believe? if
> anyone knows where that terms originates I would be most grateful.
>
I always heard that it was 'pommies' and meant 'Prisoners Of Mother
England'. I have no idea why it would mean that.

Sharon again:
yes Pom is short for Pommie but I never heard of 'Prisoners of Mother England", Maybe it refers to the fact that Britain colonised Australia by sending out shiploads of convicts?

Sharon, yet again answering myself:
I found this website where it states that pommie is short for pomegranate- -referring to the fact that Anglo-British immigrants all had very fair skin and burnt easily in the harsh Australian sun. Anglo-Aussies tend to be more tanned, even the fair ones.
http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-pom1.htm