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limey

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

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See also: Limey

English

Etymology

In adjectival senses, by surface analysis, 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)

  1. Resembling limes (the fruit); lime-like.
  2. Of, or pertaining to, limes (the fruit).
    This drink is full of limey goodness.

Noun

English Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia

limey (plural limeys)

  1. (dated, slang, derogatory) An English or British ship.
  2. (US, Australia, New Zealand, slang, ethnic slur) An Englishman or other Briton, or a person of British descent; an English or British immigrant.
    Synonyms: (Australia) pommy, (Australia) pom
    • 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.

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