18 March 2018

limey

[lahy-mee]

Slang: Usually Disparaging and Offensive.

noun, plural limeys.

1. a British sailor.
2. a British ship.
3. a British person.
adjective
4. British.

Origin of limey

1885-1890 First recorded in 1885-90; See origin at lime-juicer, -y2

Usage note

This term (and the earlier lime-juicer) was probably first applied by Americans to British sailors, used with disparaging intent and perceived as insulting. Historically, it also referred to a British immigrant in Australia. Later it became a more neutral nickname for any British person.

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for limey

Contemporary Examples

Maybe they needed to do that because Freud himself was hardly a true limey.
Lucian Freud, the Conservative Radical
Blake Gopnik
July 21, 2011

Historical Examples

We are a little mortary and limey at present, but we are getting on capitally.
Reprinted Pieces
Charles Dickens

A plasterer with limey overalls gazed at the wagon intently until it passed by.
Watch Yourself Go By
Al. G. Field

The same facts exist with regard to a loam, a calcareous (or limey) soil, or a vegetable mould.
The Elements of Agriculture
George E. Waring

Anagram

my lie

Today’s quote

Writing, to me, is simply thinking through my fingers.

– Isaac Asimov

On this day

18 March 1922 – Mahatma Gandhi sentenced to six years imprisonment by an Indian court for civil disobedience against the British Empire, which included boycotting British made goods. He ended up serving two years.

18 March 1965 – Russian cosmonaut, Lt Col Alexei Leonov becomes the first man to walk in space, when he exits his spacecraft for a short ‘walk’, which included a somersault.

18 March 2017 – Death of Chuck Berry, legendary American musician and pioneer of rock and roll. Famous for songs such as ‘Roll Over Beethoven’ and ‘Johnny B. Goode’. Born 18 October 1926.