British sailors used limes to fight scurvy etc - something only the
Brits did to begin with - and one of the reasons the navy was so
sucessful (so I am lead to believe)
Originally the recommendation was to use lemons... but none of the
countries that grew lemons liked the Brits - so they had to use limes
instead.
We could have been lemonys!
public@sweavo.34sp.com wrote:
>Quoting mikeross <mikeross@prodigy.net>:
>
>
>
>>I don't know the exact derivation of the word "yank", but I find it
>>endearing. It reminds me of my dad's generation of WWII veterans. They
>>were always called "yanks", and never took offence.
>>
>>Do Brits take offence to the term "limeys" (not sure of spelling)?
>>
>>
>
>Generally no, though depending on the tone/context (as with all things I guess)
>
>I'm sure I used to know where that term came from...
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