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by Drublic on February 5th, 2007

Drublic

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Where did the term "limey" originate as a slang for an English person?

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  • by lightfly on February 5th, 2007

    lightfly

    1. it originated as a term for British sailors.

    "The term is believed to derive from lime-juicer, referring to the Royal Navy and Merchant Navy practice of supplying lime juice to British sailors to prevent scurvy in the 19th century."

    "The term Limey evolved into a verb "to lime" which means to hang out. The British sailors "Limeys" would hang out in the urban areas when off-duty and patronise the local prostitutes."

    --- "The term is thought to have originated in the Caribbean in the 1880s."

    http://www.answers.com/topic/alternative-words-for-british

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