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Americans don't really say it much..maybe years ago they did.
But it's slang from the Caribbean.
It means English person or British sailor.
Scurvy had long been the prime killer of sailors during long sea voyages that left them without access to fresh vegetables and fruit. Their body stores of vitamin C fell below 300 milligrams, and their gums and skin lost the protective effects of vitamin C. In the 1770s, Captain James Cook had his sailors eat limes, lemons, and sprouts; all abundant sources of vitamin C. By 1795, the British navy was obtaining limes from the British West Indian colonies, and made them standard issue at sea to prevent scurvy. This practice led to the American use of the nickname "limey" to refer to the British.
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Why were English sailors called limeys?
English sailors were called limeys because the British Royal Navy provided them with lime juice to prevent scurvy during long sea voyages. The high vitamin C content in the lime juice helped ward off the disease, which was common among sailors due to lack of fresh fruits and vegetables.
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What Americans call a flat to live in?
Americans typically refer to a flat as an "apartment" or a "condo."
What is a yank World War 2?
During World War II, British soldiers and civilians referred to Americans as yanks - from Yankees. The Americans called the British limeys.
What was the nickname for the British?
redcoats they were called "Limeys"
Why do Americans call us limeys?
During the 18th and early 19th century, after long periods at sea, sailors were afflicted by a condition known as scurvy. It was eventually discovered that this condition was caused by a lack of vitamin C during long sea voyages. To cure the problem, British sailors were given a ration of limes. American sailors were amused by this and started calling the British sailors Limeys which quickly spread to British people in general.
What were british sailors used to be called?
swabs, tars and limeys
Do Germans get offended when you call them kraults?
No more than Americans when you call them Yanks, or the British being called limeys. By the way it is krauts not kraults, first used in the first World War as a derogatory term for a German soldier. It was as a synonym for sauerkraut, a traditional German and central European food.
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The Rebellion.
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What Americans call pants, the British would call trousers.
What did Britain call the American colonies?
yankies and they called us limeys
What do the British call what Americans call cream?
They call it cream too.
Why are british people called limeys?
This is a nickname that died out after World War II and was only used by Americans. In the 18th and early 19th century, sailors of all nationalities were afflicted by a condition known as scurvy after long periods at sea. It was eventually discovered that the condition was caused by a lack of vitamin C during long sea voyages and to solve the problem, British ships started to carry quantities of limes on long voyages, which were distributed to crew members at regular intervals during the voyage. When American seamen heard about this, they didn't believe that limes could alleviate scurvy and ridiculed the British sailors by calling them 'Limeys'. The name soon spread and eventually most Americans called British people (not just sailors) Limeys.
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YES.
What do Americans call what the British call an estate car?
Station Wagon
