Pommy
The term Pommy for a British person is commonly used in Australian English and New Zealand English, and is often shortened to Pom. The origin of this term is not confirmed.
One etymology of the term is thought to be that, as the majority of early immigrants to Australia were British, it is rhyming slang for "immigrant" from a contraction of the word "pomegranate", or possibly more directly related to the appearance of the fruit, as it bears a more than passing resemblance to the typical pale complexioned Briton's skin after his or her first few days living under the hot Australian sun.
Another etymology, is such that POM is a shortened acronym of Prisoner of His/Her Majesty (POHM). This refers to the fact that most of Australian's first settlers were convicts, sentenced to transportation. Upon arrival in the country they would sport a "uniform", with the four initials emblazoned on the back. Convicts with an extended stay on Australian soil would no longer have to wear the shirt, and would often refer to newer entrants into the country as "Pohmmys". The modern term excludes the H. Such actions could have presumed the Australian trait of self-joking. But though this may be commonly believed, it is believed to be false, as the term was coined long before acronyms were believed to be used in common parlance.
Other suggestions are mostly along the lines that POM is a different acronym, such as "Prisoner of Mother England" or "Port of Melbourne", referring to the fact that the earliest Australian settlers were convicts. None of these explanations bears up under scrutiny.
Some etymologies can be considered false etymologies, however there is a little to no evidence of a truthful conclusion to the word.
The use of the word 'Pom' is considered mildly derogatory - some may use it to cause offence, or to address the British nation as a whole, but it is mostly used as a friendly derogatory term amongst people who know each other well, especially if one of them is British and the other Australian.
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Originally Posted by MisterD
which is about as much fun as I'm going to have here at the mo as its freezing and pissing down so the bikes tucked up for the winter 
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