A British person, especially a British sailor; the term comes from the lime juice British sailors drank to prevent scurvy.
From 'lime juice,' which British sailors added to their rations starting in the 1700s to prevent vitamin C deficiency. The term 'limey' emerged as slang in the 1800s.
The irony is beautiful: British sailors were mocked as 'limeys' for their health measure, but that same practice is why they didn't die of scurvy while other navies did—literally saving the British Empire.
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