Anyone know the origin of the name 'long tom'?

Does anyone think foriegners referring to New Zealanders as 'Kiwis' comes from the widespread use of Kiwi brand boot polish by the British army in WW1? aswell as some NZ army badges during the WW1 era featuring the Kiwi bird. I have seen a 1915 cartoon of a caricatured kiwi bird NZ soldier biting the nose of a Turk. I suppose we dont call then MLE's because thats a girls name.

"Long Tom" in these parts of the US generally refers to long barreled shotguns generally used for duck and goose hunting. Probably more common in the old punt gun days. (A punt gun is sort of a spinal mount on a low freeboard boat -Think A10, but for ducks found sitting in a flock on the water.) The term isn't common any more- at least here.

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Originally Posted by Beerhunter

I'm afraid that that doesn't fit the facts. As has been alluded to, the Territorial Army was not called that until 1920.

And, again as has been said, we don't use the term Long Tom over this side of the pond.

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Yup, quite correct so it seems, should've thought to check out 'wiki' before tapping out an answer. I guess TA was a convenient coincidence.

Probably just a generic term. In German I believe they say or used to say "Lange Hans" on occasion for things or people tall or long . IIRC the term was also applied to the 4.7" naval guns that were put on hastily fabricated steel carriages and sent out to S.A. with naval crews to counter the Boer "Long Toms". And I do believe those were one of, if the first British artillery pieces to have a steel shield for the gunners. An obvious necessity when fighting the Boers.