Limey

Limey is a colloquial term used to refer to a British person, especially a sailor from the Royal Navy. The word has historical usage and can carry both affectionate and pejorative connotations depending on context and tone.

The nickname derives from the Royal Navy's practice of giving sailors lime juice to prevent scurvy, a routine begun in the 18th century and widely adopted in the 19th. Because of the association with lime juice, non-British observers, particularly in the United States, began calling British sailors "limeys." The term later extended to Britons more generally in some contexts.

In contemporary usage, limey is largely considered dated and may be seen as insulting if used with contempt, though it can be used jokingly or self-referentially in some circles. It is most often encountered in historical writing, literature, or journalism about naval history.

See also: Scurvy; Royal Navy; Lime juice.