Where did the term “limey” originate as a slang for an English person?
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.
