Jeep

etymology: The word jeep does originate as a shortening of the abbreviation "G.P." to the single syllable "Jeep". However, "G.P." is not an abbreviation for "General Purpose" as is commonly believed. The original vehicle designation used by the manufacturer (Ford) for the military "Jeep" was GPW, where G denotes that it was a government vehicle, P denotes that it has an 80" wheelbase (Ford used letters to denote increasing wheelbase; "A" being the narrowest) and W denoting that it was the Willys design.

Ford Motor Company produced Jeeps for the U.S. Government between 1942 and 1945.

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