Definition of "Tom"

Poor Tom's a-cold.

c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act III, scene iv]

"Good,—that's a whack. What's your name?""Becky Thatcher. What's yours? Oh, I know. It's Thomas Sawyer.""That's the name they lick me by. I'm Tom when I'm good. You call me Tom, will you?"

1876, Mark Twain [pseudonym; Samuel Langhorne Clemens], chapter VI, in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Hartford, Conn.: The American Publishing Company, page 70

What I'm worrying about is what Tom says when he starts talking.""Uncle Tom?""I wish there was something else you could call him except 'Uncle Tom'," said Aunt Dahlia a little testily. "Every time you do it, I expect to see him turn black and start playing the banjo."

1934, P. G. Wodehouse, Right Ho, Jeeves

"We're not sure - we were expecting a girl for some reason. But we're thinking of something simple like Tom.""Thomas?""No, just Tom."

2008, David Park, The Truth Commissioner, page 366

They had a thick rim, and when struck with pieces of wood, gave out a tone deeper than that of some of the Great Toms renowned in belldom.

1857, William Chambers, Robert Chambers, “Something about bells”, in Chambers's Journal, volume 28, number 207, page 398

After these came innumerable little boys bearing little bells, which made little noises in comparison to the "Big Tom" that preceded them.

1857, “An earthquake in Honduras”, in Harper's Magazine

And there little Johnny Bell hung dangling along with the great Tom bell, and all the rest of the bells.

1825, Moncrieff, "A Parish-Clerk was Johnny Bell", The Universal Songster (in a song about a man who hangs himself in the bell tower)

The city [New York] does not know a better auctioneer; the celebrated Tom Bell not ringing clearer.

1848, “The book auction of New York”, in The Literary World