Derogatory terms for British people during the Revolution?

Question

I need a word for a paper I'm doing similar to what yankee was to Americans during the revolution. I think limey might be one but I can't remember if that applied to the British or the Americans. Any other words you guys know would be beautiful :)

Answer 1

"Biddies," "Brits" and "Redcoats" were the derogatory terms used by American colonials for the British during the Revolutionary War. There were no others that I know of.

"Limey" came a little later just before the war of 1812. It referred to British Captain James Cook's discovery that eating citrus fruits on long maritime voyages prevented scurvy among sailors.

The "American Heritage Dictionary " says that "Limey" is: "Short for lime juicer (from the use of lime juice on British warships in order to prevent scurvy). "

Biddy and Brit are both derivations of "British." For a long time "Brit" had disappeared from the American lexicon. It began making a comeback only about ten years ago. I've heard it used mostly by American military people especially with reference to the British soldiers fighting alongside the Americans in the present Iraq war. .

Answer 2

British Capt. Cook discovered that the Australian tea plant prevented scurvy, the nemesis of mariners. Also, that citrus, originally limes, prevented it. So, the Royal Navy made it a point to carry and administer them to their crews. Thus, the epithet, "Limeys". "Redcoats" was another derogatory remark, for, guess why?

(Wrong!) Brits have been Brits all through the 20th C.

Answer 3

It doesn't matter what you called us - we may have lost but we have one thing that you in the US don't have - apart from the American Indians that is - and that is a heritage that everyone in the US seems to admire.

When I was on holiday in the US a couple of years ago, strangers in restaurants just wanted to hear me say something. Very embarrassing that was. Just think, had we not lost, you could have talked just like us!!

Answer 4

lobster backs