2007-01-05 17:35:16 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
It goes back to early days of relations between the United States and Great Britain when the english provided lime juice to their naval personel to help ward off scurvy. For some reason it seemed unusual to the rest of the world. No one else did it, so they called them Limeys.
2007-01-05 17:38:37 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
heres an answer it came from a previous answer for same question !!
As it turns out, the term "limey" originally applied to British sailors. In the 17th and 18th centuries, sailors suffered terribly from scurvy, a condition caused by a lack of vitamin C. Vitamin C comes mainly from fresh fruits and vegetables, but these foods aren't exactly easy to come by when you're at sea for months at a time.
So the Royal Navy prescribed lime juice for all sailors to help ward off scurvy -- hence the appellation "limeys." As often happens, the term eventually lost its original context and was applied to all British, whether sailors or landlubbers.
2007-01-06 01:41:41 · answer #2 · answered by da rinse mode 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
During there over sea trips they would take lemons for vitamin C and reduce the risk of scurvy. They had a shortage of lemons and started taking limes unfortunately for them limes have almost or no vitamin c. So they lost the scurvy battle and got a new nickname "limeys"
2007-01-06 01:39:28 · answer #3 · answered by William H 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Back when the English ruled the waves they had limes on their ships to prevent scurvy in the sailors. This brough about the nickname of limey. I think I know why we are called "yanks", but I will let one of our UK friends enlighten us.
2007-01-06 01:45:57 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The English navy ruled the world and people knew the British through their navy. People out to sea a long time suffered scurvy and the British Navy learned to prevent this through the consumption of citrus, namely Limes!
2007-01-06 01:38:47 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
It comes from the practice of English sailors of keeping limes on their ships. They would eat the limes to prevent getting scurvey. Scurvey is caused by a lack of vitamin C in the diet.
2007-01-06 01:43:17 · answer #6 · answered by John W 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because we know that the English like to add lime to flavor their beverages.
2007-01-06 01:39:16 · answer #7 · answered by Annmaree 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
um no because I don't have any idea what a Limey is.
2007-01-06 01:36:56 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It referrs to them eating limes.
2007-01-06 01:42:50 · answer #9 · answered by Speedoguy 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋