Doughboy facts for kids

Hugh Ball, an American soldier, in 1918

A Doughboy was a special nickname given to American soldiers. This name was mostly used for the 85,000 Americans who fought in France during World War I. Their main leader was General John J. Pershing.

Where Did the Name "Doughboy" Come From?

The word "doughboy" was actually known for almost 100 years before World War I. Back then, it had a different meaning. In places like Spain, America, and Britain, "doughboys" were small, fried doughnuts. It's likely that American soldiers knew this word by the early 1800s.

Early Ideas for the Name

No one is completely sure who first used "doughboy" for soldiers. But it was used as early as the 1840s. One popular idea comes from the Mexican–American War.

Dusty Soldiers

During the Mexican-American War, soldiers in the army often marched through very dusty areas in Mexico. This dust would cover them from head to toe. Some people thought the dusty soldiers looked like uncooked dough. This might be how the name "doughboy" started.

Mud Bricks or Food?

Another idea is that the dusty soldiers looked like "adobes." Adobes are special mud bricks used in that area. A different theory suggests the name came from how soldiers cooked their food in the 1840s and 1850s. They would bake doughy mixtures of flour and rice in the ashes of a fire. However, this idea doesn't explain why only army men were called "doughboys."

Images for kids

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  "Over the top" – close-up of a doughboy in full combat dress

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  World War I colorized photo of a very young Doughboy