The etymology of this term is unknown. Initially, it was used as a derogative for French Candians but that does not help to explain where it comes from.
According to Bart Bandy’s Lexicon of Canadian Etymology (Don Mills, Ont., C. Farquharson, 1994), the term evolved from the French word canule around the time of the American Revolution; but its path of evolution is still not clear. The most likely possibility is that it rose from a mispronunciation among Benedict Arnold’s forces as they laid siege to Quebec in the winter of ’76. According to Bandy, the comte de Theleme-Menteuse was one of the locals captured by the ragtag Americans. In his Contes bizarre d’Isle (sic) d’Orleans, the latter says that the Americans picked up the common phrase "Quelle canule," but they were usually shivering so hard when they said it that it came out with the "l" hardened into a glottal stop – thence a "k."
On the other hand, Montgomery, Arnold’s co-commander on the Canadian expedition, says that Arnold, who loved word-play, made a joke on the word "canule" that was picked up by his troops. In discussing the strategic value of placing troops at the mouth of the St. Lawrence to resist the British fleet expected in the spring, Arnold noted the peculiar shape of the Gaspe Peninsula and exclaimed, "There’s a canule to make his majesty gasp." One assumes that the same shivering effect noted previously led to the mispronunciation.
Yet another possibility comes from the German mercernaries who were captured with Burgoyne’s army at Saratoga. Held in prison camps in Pennsylvania, after Yorktown they were offered repatriation to Canada where they had spent several months camped near present-day Ottawa waiting for Burgoyne to get his gear together. Their universal protestation when return to the "Plains of Ottawa" was offered them was, "Nein! Nein! Genug von Kanada." They opted, instead, to become Pennsylvania Dutch. The English speaking Americans around them picked up the phrase (part of "Pulling the Lion’s Tail" no doubt) and compressed "Genug von Kanada" into "Genug Kanada," and so on. While this seems somewhat far-fetched, it does offer a reasonable explanation for the "k" in a word supposedly derived from French, especially as it was often spelled "Kanuck" during the 19th Century.
Bandy also suggests that there is some evidence of the word originating among the "down-easters" of Maine who had picked up "Quelle Canule" from their French speaking neighbors and applied it when facing the navigational difficulties caused by the peculiar "flushing" effect of the famed tides of the Bay of FUNdy. ("Down-easter," by the way, has an interesting etymology of its own.)
Another possibility that occurs to me, though there is no mention in Bandy, is that the many Scots who came to the Great White North during the late 18th and early 19th centuries quickly absorbed "Quelle canule" into their working vocabulary. Being Scots, they would, of course, swallow the end of canule and apply a mild glottal stop, ending up with something very like "Quelle canuhgk." I haven’t had a chance to research this yet, so it remains in the area of supposition. link
Oh, I hope Zeni makes another thread so I can see Harvey Goldsmith - the ultimate pinnacle of comedy and wit - reply in his inimitable fashion! Please, Mr Goldsmith, do me next! Come at me with your oh-so-clever repartee, because I haven't had a good 'burn' lately. I quiver in anticipation as to what you might say - perhaps 'fucking tosser' will be thrown in somewhere, which will zap me right where it matters the most and knock me down, stunned! But please don't go easy on me, that's all I ask of you. I wouldn't want to catch you when you're not at your funniest, most acerbic self.
I have a question for all you Canadian folks...
Do you find the term "Canuck" offensive.
Certainly some groups feel offended when people from other groups use certain terms that they consider negative and derogatory.
Some Americans for instance feel offended when Mexicans and other hispanics use the word "gringo", even though it has been used for more than a century and most hispanics don't think it's offensive at all. Some Americans also feel offended by the term "Yank", which is constantly used by Brits.
Some Jewish people find it offensive when non-Jewish use the term "Jew". The truth is that most Jewish people use it themselves and don't find it offensive at all.
A lot of Latin Americans living in Spain consider the term "sudaca" very offensive, even though some of them call themselves "sudacas". Spaniards consider that the term has never been meant to be offensive, and there's nothing wrong with it.
I don't find it offensive to be called a Canuck. It's just a word... also, living in Canada means you are at the butt of all country jokes, so we just smile and nod. :)
It comes from auditions to replace Curly Howard of The Three Stooges. When asked the question, those auditioning would reply..
"Can I 'nyuk'? Can I 'nyuk', you say?!!? Yes, I can 'nyuk'."
soytanly I can