limey
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See also: Limey
English
Etymology
In adjectival senses, equivalent to lime + -y.
In the sense of “Englishman”, reduced from the 19th century term lime-juicer (“British ship”), from the lime juice British ships carried to ward off scurvy.
Pronunciation
Adjective
limey (comparative limier, superlative limiest)
- Resembling limes (the fruit); lime-like.
- Of, or pertaining to, limes (the fruit).
- This drink is full of limey goodness.
Noun
limey (plural limeys)
- (dated, slang, derogatory) An English or British ship.
- (US, Australia, New Zealand, slang, derogatory) An Englishman or other Briton, or a person of British descent; an English or British immigrant.
- 1956, Ian Fleming, chapter 15, in Diamonds Are Forever:
- Ya look like anything ’cept a tourist who’s come to lose his wad and they get a bad case of nose trouble. Take yaself. Anyone can see ya’re a Limey even before ya start talking.