how did it come about that British Sailors are known as Lymes?

Question

how did it come about that British Sailors are known as Lymes

Answer 1

This was bacause the sailors use to suck on limes to reduce the risk of them catching Scurvy which is an condition caused by a difencency in Vitamin c.

Answer 2

They were actually known as "limeys" from the British Navy's use of limes to prevent scurvy at sea.

In the days of sailing ships voyages were often weeks or months (or even years) long. During that time the only food was salted meat (or fish) and hard, tinned biscuits (hard tack). No fresh meat, fruit or vegetables, because they spoiled within a week or two. Without any vitamin C in their diet, sailors often developed scurvy, a horrible disease of the gums which reduced their usefulness as sailors (look up scurvy for a complete description of symptoms). The British Navy discovered that including limes in the sailors' diet prevented scurvy,and they became the most powerful navy (and therefore most powerful military force) in the world. Because lime juice was hard to swallow by itself (try it!), it was mixed with rum and served daily as a "grog" ration.

Eventually refrigeration came to the hgh seas and scurvy diasppeared, but he name"Limey" stuck.

Answer 3

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.

As to whether or not it's an insult to be called a "limey", well, that all depends on whom you ask.

Answer 4

Brits are known as 'Limies' from the requirement for sailors to be provided with Lime Juice as an anti-scorbutic (?sp) to help prevent scurvey. I am not sure if this is still current, but when I was at sea in the late 60s our ships still carried 'Board of Trade' lime juice which had to be freely available.

I am not sure when this was introduced, but I think it was in the mid 1800s..

Answer 5

To keep scurvy away on ye old sailing ships, sailors ate a Lime a day as was recommended on long voyages.

Answer 6

Had to do with scurvy - someone noticed that citrus would help prevent scurvy (a common problem for seamen) and so British sailors were required to eat limes.

Answer 7

Because in the old days of wooden ships etc. people onboard were liable to scurvy (lack of vit C) so British sailors used to drink Lime juice to prevent this.

Answer 8

Worth knowing as well that limes were a poor substitute for the original recommendation, which was oranges. The problem was that we were at war with Spain at the time that the value of vitamin C became recognised, so oranges were not easy - or almost impossible - to come by.

Answer 9

We ate limes to combat scurvy at sea. The diet's a bit better now!

Answer 10

They carried with them on long sea journeys lots of limes. This is for vitamin c. This vitamin stops scurvy, which was common on long sea journeys.