Limey

noun

/ˈlaɪmi/

(North American English, Australian English, old-fashioned, informal)

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a slightly offensive word for a British person英国佬
CultureThe word 'Limey' was used especially by US military forces during the Second World War, often as a way of showing a lack of respect, to mean a British sailor or soldier. It refers to the old practice in the British navy of drinking the juice of limes (= green fruit like lemons) to avoid getting the disease of scurvy which is caused by the lack of vitamin C.
Word Originlate 19th cent.: from lime (the fruit) + -y, because of the former enforced consumption of lime juice in the British navy.

BNC: 42274 COCA: 43953

limey