Say Uncle

[Tri_Tandem_Solo]

undefinedWhile playing and frollicking with my kids, I continued tickling my daughter until she said “uncle!”
Anyone know how the term “Uncle” came to mean I-give-up?undefined

[Doctor_Jackson]

According to wordorigins.org:

The OED2 includes a cite from American Speech in 1976 where the origin is traced to the Irish anacol, meaning an act of mercy or quarter. So, to say uncle appears to be a folk etymology that arose in North America from Irish immigrants. The phrase is pretty much unknown in the UK and Ireland.

[Khadaji]

Here is what the Word Detective has to say

[Chefguy]

Just wanted to relate a story. I was wrestling around with my son when he was very young. When I told him to say ‘uncle’, he said ‘John’. Took me an hour to stop laughing about it.