limey

In adjectival senses, by surface analysis, lime +‎ -y.

In the sense of Englishman, reduced from the 19th century term lime-juicer (“a 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. (US, Australia, New Zealand, slang, ethnic slur) An Englishman or other Briton, or a person of British descent; an English or British immigrant.

   Synonyms: pommy (Australia), pom (Australia)

   • 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.

2. (slang, derogatory, dated) An English or British ship.

• Limey

• EMILY, Elymi, Emily, Miley