At 10:50 AM 2/13/02 +0100, you wrote:
>Just to clarify,

No.. folk etymology at work, I'm afraid. Here are some cites:

http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=pommy
http://www.quinion.com/words/qa/qa-pom1.htm

 From M-W:-
Etymology: by shortening & alter. from pomegranate,
alteration of Jimmy Grant, rhyming slang for immigrant
Date: 1912

It's a fairly new word, well after the penal colony days.

Best regards,

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