What are limeys?

Answer 1

Slang for British people.

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.