Canuck /kəˈnʌk/ is a slang term for a Canadian, though its semantic nuances are manifold.[1] A variety of theories have been postulated for the etymological origins of the term.[2] The term Kanuck is first recorded in 1835 as an Americanism, originally referring to Dutch Canadians (which included German Canadians) or French Canadians.[2][3] By the 1850s, the spelling with a "C" became predominant.[2] Today, many Canadians and others use Canuck as a mostly affectionate term for any Canadian.[2][4]
Johnny Canuck is a folklore hero who was created as a political cartoon in 1869 and was later re-invented as a Second World War action hero in 1942.[5] The Vancouver Canucks, a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League (NHL), has used a version of "Johnny Canuck" as their team logos.[6]
The Canadian military has used the term colloquially for several projects: Operation Canuck, the Avro Canada CF-100 Canuck and the Fleet 80 Canuck.
Captain Canuck is a Canadian comic book superhero who first appeared in Captain Canuck #1 (July 1975).[7] The series was the first successful Canadian comic book since the collapse of the nation's comic book industry following World War II.[8]