Dough boys was the nickname of American infantry soldiers, orginating in the Civil War in reference to the dumpling-shaped buttons on the Union soldiers' jackets. Others claim the term goes back to the Mexican-American War or originated from an early form of the doughnut, called the Doughboy.
Another explanation of the term "Doughboy" stems from the time of the Punitive Expedition against Pancho Villa in 1916, in which the infantry were constantly covered with dust from marching through the dry terrain of northern Mexico, giving them the appearance of unbaked dough.
Popularity of the term Doughboy
The term "Doughboy" became most popular during World War I, since the American Expeditionary Force was led by General John J. Pershing, who had been a commander of the Mexican expedition. These troups were characterized by their uniform. The helmet worn in combat was called the Doughboy helmet, even though it was adopted from its use by the British army. At first the term applied to only the infantry, but soon applied to the entire American contingent.
The term fell into disuse and was replaced by the appellation G.I. in World War II.
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