limey

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.

• IPA^(key): /ˈlaɪmi/

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -aɪmi

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.

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.

• Limey

• EMILY, Elymi, Emily, Miley