Origin and history of Gilbert

island nation in the Pacific, formerly Gilbert Islands and named for Capt. Thomas Gilbert, who arrived there 1788 after helping transport the first shipload of convicts to Australia. At independence in 1979 it took the current name, which represents the local pronunciation of Gilbert. Christmas Island, named for the date it was discovered by Europeans, is in the chain and now goes by Kiritimati, likewise a local pronunciation of the English name.

familiar shortening of masc. proper name Thomas; Middle English Tomme, Tomme, Thom. It was used by late 14c. as a type of a nickname for a common man (as in later Tom, Dick, and Harry, 1734) but often also implying some degree of contempt (compare Jack). It also was a 17c. nickname for several exceptionally large bells.

Tom Walker, U.S. Southern colloquial for "the devil" is recorded from 1833. Tom and Jerry is attested by 1828 and later used in many extended senses, but originally referred to the two chief characters (Corinthian Tom and Jerry Hawthorn) in Pierce Egan's "Life in London" (1821); the U.S. cat and mouse cartoon characters debuted 1940 in "Puss Gets the Boot."

Tom Thumb (1570s) was a miniature man in popular tradition before P.T. Barnum took the name for a dwarf he exhibited. Tom Fool as an emphatic "fool" is from mid-14c. (Thom Fole). Tom-tit "titmouse" is from 1709; tom-titmouse is from 1570s. For animal names also compare tomcat.

As short for Uncle Tom in the sense of "Black man regarded as too servile to whites" it is recorded by 1959. As a verb in this sense by 1963. Tom Jones the novel is from 1749; the movie, which inspired some style trends, is from 1963.