An Explanation of Why Yankee Doodle Called the Feather in His Hat ‘Macaroni’

In a video for Vox, writer Phil Edwards gives an explanation of the line in the song “Yankee Doodle” about calling a feather “macaroni.” Edwards explains that both the line and the song have more historical context than many people may realize.

Yankee Doodle went to town
Riding on a pony;
He stuck a feather in his hat,
And called it macaroni.