A Canuck is a slang term for a Canadian, especially a French Canadian. The origins of the word are uncertain, but it was first recorded in 1835 as an Americanism, originally referring to Dutch Canadians (which included German Canadians) or French Canadians. By the 1850s, the spelling with a "C" became predominant. Today, many Canadians and others use Canuck as a mostly affectionate term for any Canadian.
The term Canuck is sometimes perceived as insulting when used by non-Canadians or when specifically referring to French Canadians. However, among Canadians, it is sometimes used as a neutral nickname or term of self-reference. 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. The Canadian military has also used the term colloquially for several projects, such as Operation Canuck, the Avro Canada CF-100 Canuck, and the Fleet 80 Canuck.
