limey

Meaning: a derogatory word meaning a British person (n.) | British (adj.)

For example:

My grandfather told me about being called a limey when he came to America from England when he was a boy.
People used to make jokes about how bad limey food was.

Note: 1. this word is offensive to British people and you should not use it 2. it is becoming old-fashioned and is mostly used by older people

Origin: Probably related to the fact that members of the British navy used to drink lime juice to prevent a disease called scurvy. Scurvy is caused by a lack of vitamin C, and citrus fruits like oranges, lemons and limes are an excellent source of this essential vitamin.

Quick Quiz:

People used to call my grandfather a limey because he

liked to eat limes
came from France
was born in the U.K.

Discuss: limey

Slang of the Day

This entry is in the following categories:

Slang/L
Slang/Insulting