Blue

Blue (?), n.

1. One of the seven colors into which the rays of light divide themselves, when refracted through a glass prism; the color of the clear sky, or a color resembling that, whether lighter or darker; a pigment having such color. Sometimes, poetically, the sky.

2. A pedantic woman; a bluestocking. [Colloq.]

3. pl. [Short for blue devils.] Low spirits; a fit of despondency; melancholy. [Colloq.] Berlin blue, Prussian blue. -- Mineral blue. See under Mineral. -- Prussian blue. See under Prussian.

Blue

Blue, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blued (#); p. pr. & vb. n. Bluing.] To make blue; to dye of a blue color; to make blue by heating, as metals, etc.

Blueback

Blue"back` (?), n. (Zoöl.) (a) A trout (Salmo oquassa) inhabiting some of the lakes of Maine. (b) A salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) of the Columbia River and northward. (c) An American river herring (Clupea æstivalis), closely allied to the alewife.

Bluebeard

Blue"beard (?), n. The hero of a mediæval French nursery legend, who, leaving home, enjoined his young wife not to open a certain room in his castle. She entered it, and found the murdered bodies of his former wives. -- Also used adjectively of a subject which it is forbidden to investigate.

The Bluebeard chamber of his mind, into which no eye but his own must look. Carlyle.

Bluebell

Blue"bell` (?), n. (Bot.) (a) A plant of the genus Campanula, especially the Campanula rotundifolia, which bears blue bell-shaped flowers; the harebell. (b) A plant of the genus Scilla (Scilla nutans).

Blueberry

Blue"berry (?), n. [Cf. Blaeberry.] (Bot.) The berry of several species of Vaccinium, and ericaceous genus, differing from the American huckleberries in containing numerous minute seeds instead of ten nutlets. The commonest species are V. Pennsylvanicum and V. vacillans. V. corymbosum is the tall blueberry.

Bluebill

Blue"bill` (?), n. (Zoöl.) A duck of the genus Fuligula. Two American species (F. marila and F. affinis) are common. See Scaup duck.

Bluebird

Blue"bird` (?), n. (Zoöl.) A small song bird (Sialia sialis), very common in the United States, and, in the north, one of the earliest to arrive in spring. The male is blue, with the breast reddish. It is related to the European robin. Pairy bluebird (Zoöl.), a brilliant Indian or East Indian bird of the genus Irena, of several species.

Blue bonnet or Blue-bonnet

Blue" bon`net or Blue"-bon`net (?), n.
1. A broad, flat Scottish cap of blue woolen, or one waring such cap; a Scotchman.
2. (Bot.) A plant. Same as Bluebottle.
3. (Zoöl.) The European blue titmouse (Parus cœruleus); the bluecap.
Blue book
Blue" book` (?).
1. A parliamentary publication, so called from its blue paper covers. [Eng.]
2. The United States official Biennial Register."
Bluebottle
Blue"bot`tle (?), n.
1. (Bot.) A plant (Centaurea cyanus) which grows in grain fields. It receives its name from its blue bottle-shaped flowers.
2. (Zoöl.) A large and troublesome species of blowfly (Musca vomitoria). Its body is steel blue.
Bluebreast
Blue"breast` (?), n. (Zoöl.) A small European bird; the blue-throated warbler.
Bluecap
Blue"cap` (?), n.
1. (Zoöl.) (a) The bluepoll. (b) The blue bonnet or blue titmouse.
2. A Scot; a Scotchman; -- so named from wearing a blue bonnet. [Poetic] Shak.
Bluecoat
Blue"coat` (?), n. One dressed in blue, as a soldier, a sailor, a beadle, etc.
Blue-eye
Blue"-eye` (?), n. (Zoöl.) The blue-cheeked honeysucker of Australia.
Blue-eyed
Blue"-eyed` (?), a. Having blue eyes.
Blue-eyed grass
Blue-eyed grass (?) (Bot.) a grasslike plant (Sisyrinchium anceps), with small flowers of a delicate blue color.
Bluefin
Blue"fin` (?), n. (Zoöl.) A species of whitefish (Coregonus nigripinnis) found in Lake Michigan.
Bluefish
Blue"fish` (?), n. (Zoöl.)
1. A large voracious fish (Pomatomus saitatrix), of the family Carangidæ, valued as a food fish, and widely distributed on the American coast. On the New Jersey and Rhode Island coast it is called the horse mackerel, in Virginia saltwater tailor, or skipjack.
2. A West Indian fish (Platyglossus radiatus), of the family Labridæ. &hand; The name is applied locally to other species of fishes; as the cunner, sea bass, squeteague, etc.
Bluegown
Blue"gown` (?), n. One of a class of paupers or pensioners, or licensed beggars, in Scotland, to whim annually on the king's birthday were distributed certain alms, including a blue gown; a beadsman.
Blue grass
Blue" grass` (?). (Bot.) A species of grass (Poa compressa) with bluish green stems, valuable in thin gravelly soils; wire grass. Kentucky blue grass, a species of grass (Poa pratensis) which has running rootstocks and spreads rapidly. It is valuable as a pasture grass, as it endures both winter and drought better than other kinds, and is very nutritious.
Blue jay
Blue" jay` (?). (Zoöl.) The common jay of the United States (Cyanocitta, or Cyanura, cristata). The predominant color is bright blue.
Blue-john
Blue"-john` (?), n. A name given to fluor spar in Derbyshire, where it is used for ornamental purposes.
Bluely
Blue"ly, adv. With a blue color. Swift.
Blueness
Blue"ness, n. The quality of being blue; a blue color. Boyle.
Bluenose
Blue"nose (?), n. A nickname for a Nova Scotian.
Bluepoll
Blue"poll` (), n. [Blue + poll head.] (Zoöl.) A kind of salmon (Salmo Cambricus) found in Wales.
Blueprint
Blue"print. See under Print.
Bluestocking
Blue"stock`ing (?), n.
1. A literary lady; a female pedant. [Colloq.] &hand; As explained in Boswell's Life of Dr. Johnson", this term is derived from the name given to certain meetings held by ladies, in Johnson's time, for conversation with distinguished literary men. An eminent attendant of these assemblies was a Mr. Stillingfleet, who always wore blue stockings. He was so much distinguished for his conversational powers that his absence at any time was felt to be a great loss, so that the remark became common, We can do nothing without the blue stockings." Hence these meetings were sportively called bluestocking clubs, and the ladies who attended them, bluestockings.
2. (Zoöl.) The American avocet (Recurvirostra Americana).
Bluestockingism
Blue"stock`ing*ism (?), n. The character or manner of a bluestocking; female pedantry. [Colloq.]
Bluestone
Blue"stone` (), n.
1. Blue vitriol. Dunglison.
2. A grayish blue building stone, as that commonly used in the eastern United States.
Bluethroat
Blue"throat` (#), n. (Zoöl.) A singing bird of northern Europe and Asia (Cyanecula Suecica), related to the nightingales; -- called also blue-throated robin and blue-throated warbler.
Bluets
Blu"ets (?), n. [F. bluet, bleuet, dim. of bleu blue. See Blue, a.] (Bot.) A name given to several different species of plants having blue flowers, as the Houstonia cœrulea, the Centaurea cyanus or bluebottle, and the Vaccinium angustifolium.
Blue-veined
Blue"-veined` (), a. Having blue veins or blue streaks.
Bluewing
Blue"wing` (?), n. (Zoöl.) The blue-winged teal. See Teal.
Bluey
Blue"y (?),a.Bluish. Southey.
Bluff
Bluff (?), a. [Cf. OD. blaf flat, broad, blaffaert one with a broad face, also, a boaster; or G. verbl\'81ffen to confuse, LG. bluffen to frighten; to unknown origin.]
1. Having a broad, flattened front; as, the bluff bows of a ship. Bluff visages." Irving.
2. Rising steeply with a flat or rounded front. A bluff or bold shore." Falconer.
Its banks, if not really steep, had a bluff and precipitous aspect. Judd.

3. Surly; churlish; gruff; rough.
4. Abrupt; roughly frank; unceremonious; blunt; brusque; as, a bluff answer; a bluff manner of talking; a bluff sea captain. Bluff King Hal." Sir W. Scott.
There is indeed a bluff pertinacity which is a proper defense in a moment of surprise. I. Taylor.

Bluff
Bluff, n.
1. A high, steep bank, as by a river or the sea, or beside a ravine or plain; a cliff with a broad face.
Beach, bluff, and wave, adieu. Whittier.

2. An act of bluffing; an expression of self-confidence for the purpose of intimidation; braggadocio; as, that is only bluff, or a bluff.
3. A game at cards; poker. [U.S.] Bartlett.
Bluff
Bluff, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bluffed (#); p. pr. & vb. n. Bluffing.]
1. (Poker) To deter (an opponent) from taking the risk of betting on his hand of cards, as the bluffer does by betting heavily on his own hand although it may be of less value. [U. S.]
2. To frighten or deter from accomplishing a purpose by making a show of confidence in one's strength or resources; as, he bluffed me off. [Colloq.]
Bluff
Bluff, v. i. To act as in the game of bluff.
Bluff-bowed
Bluff"-bowed` (), a. (Naut.) Built with the stem nearly straight up and down.
Bluffer
Bluff"er, () n. One who bluffs.
Bluff-headed
Bluff"-head`ed (), a. (Naut.) Built with the stem nearly straight up and down.
Bluffness
Bluff"ness, n. The quality or state of being bluff.
Bluffy
Bluff"y (?), a.
1. Having bluffs, or bold, steep banks.
2. Inclined to bo bluff; brusque.
Bluing
Blu"ing (?), n.
1. The act of rendering blue; as, the bluing of steel. Tomlinson.
2. Something to give a bluish tint, as indigo, or preparations used by washerwomen.
Bluish
Blu"ish (?), a. Somewhat blue; as, bluish veins. Bluish mists." Dryden. -- Blu"ish*ly, adv. -- Blu"ish*ness, n.
Blunder
Blun"der (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Blundered (#); p. pr. & vb. n. Blundering.] [OE. blunderen, blondren, to stir, confuse, blunder; perh. allied to blend to mix, to confound by mixture.]
1. To make a gross error or mistake; as, to blunder in writing or preparing a medical prescription. Swift.
2. To move in an awkward, clumsy manner; to flounder and stumble.
I was never distinguished for address, and have often even blundered in making my bow. Goldsmith.

Yet knows not how to find the uncertain place, And blunders on, and staggers every pace. Dryden.
To blunder on. (a) To continue blundering. (b) To find or reach as if by an accident involving more or less stupidity, -- applied to something desirable; as, to blunder on a useful discovery.
Blunder
Blun"der, v. t.
1. To cause to blunder. [Obs.] To blunder an adversary." Ditton.
2. To do or treat in a blundering manner; to confuse.
He blunders and confounds all these together. Stillingfleet.

Blunder
Blun"der, n.
1. Confusion; disturbance. [Obs.]
2. A gross error or mistake, resulting from carelessness, stupidity, or culpable ignorance. Syn. -- Blunder, Error, Mistake, Bull. An error is a departure or deviation from that which is right or correct; as, an error of the press; an error of judgment. A mistake is the interchange or taking of one thing for another, through haste, inadvertence, etc.; as, a careless mistake. A blunder is a mistake or error of a gross kind. It supposes a person to flounder on in his course, from carelessness, ignorance, or stupidity. A bull is a verbal blunder containing a laughable incongruity of ideas.
Blunderbuss
Blun"der*buss (?), n. [Either fr. blunder + D. bus tube, box, akin to G. b\'81chse box, gun, E. box; or corrupted fr. D. donderbus (literally) thunder box, gun, musket.]
1. A short gun or firearm, with a large bore, capable of holding a number of balls, and intended to do execution without exact aim.
2. A stupid, blundering fellow.
Blunderer
Blun"der*er (?), n. One who is apt to blunder.
Blunderhead
Blun"der*head` (), n. [Blunder + head.] A stupid, blundering fellow.
Blundering
Blun"der*ing, a. Characterized by blunders.
Blunderingly
Blun"der*ing*ly, adv. In a blundering manner.
Blunge
Blunge (?), v. t. To amalgamate and blend; to beat up or mix in water, as clay.
Blunger
Blun"ger (?), n. [Corrupted from plunger.] A wooden blade with a cross handle, used for miing the clay in potteries; a plunger. Tomlinson.
Blunging
Blun"ging (?), n. The process of mixing clay in potteries with a blunger. Tomlinson.
Blunt
Blunt (?), a. [Cf. Prov. G. bludde a dull or blunt knife, Dan. blunde to sleep, Sw. & Icel. blunda; or perh. akin to E. blind.]
1. Having a thick edge or point, as an instrument; dull; not sharp.
The murderous knife was dull and blunt. Shak.

2. Dull in understanding; slow of discernment; stupid; -- opposed to acute.
His wits are not so blunt. Shak.

3. Abrupt in address; plain; unceremonious; wanting the forms of civility; rough in manners or speech. Hiding his bitter jests in blunt behavior." A plain, blunt man." Shak.
4. Hard to impress or penetrate. [R.]
I find my heart hardened and blunt to new impressions. Pope.
&hand; Blunt is much used in composition, as blunt-edged, blunt-sighted, blunt-spoken. Syn. -- Obtuse; dull; pointless; curt; short; coarse; rude; brusque; impolite; uncivil.
Blunt
Blunt, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blunted; p. pr. & vb. n. Blunting.]
1. To dull the edge or point of, by making it thicker; to make blunt. Shak.
2. To repress or weaken, as any appetite, desire, or power of the mind; to impair the force, keenness, or susceptibility, of; as, to blunt the feelings.
Blunt
Blunt, n.
1. A fencer's foil. [Obs.]
2. A short needle with a strong point. See Needle.
3. Money. [Cant] Beaconsfield.
Bluntish
Blunt"ish, a. Somewhat blunt. -- Blunt"ish*ness, n.
Bluntly
Blunt"ly, adv. In a blunt manner; coarsely; plainly; abruptly; without delicacy, or the usual forms of civility.
Sometimes after bluntly giving his opinions, he would quietly lay himself asleep until the end of their deliberations. Jeffrey.

Bluntness
Blunt"ness, n.
1. Want of edge or point; dullness; obtuseness; want of sharpness.
The multitude of elements and bluntness of angles. Holland.

2. A bruptness of address; rude plainness. Bluntness of speech." Boyle.
Blunt-witted
Blunt"-wit`ted (?), n. Dull; stupid.
Blunt-witted lord, ignoble in demeanor! Shak.

Blur
Blur (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blurred (#); p. pr. & vb. n. Blurring.] [Prob. of same origin as blear. See Blear.]
1. To render obscure by making the form or outline of confused and uncertain, as by soiling; to smear; to make indistinct and confused; as, to blur manuscript by handling it while damp; to blur the impression of a woodcut by an excess of ink.
But time hath nothing blurred those lines of favor Which then he wore. Shak.

2. To cause imperfection of vision in; to dim; to darken.
Her eyes are blurred with the lightning's glare. J. R. Drake.

3. To sully; to stain; to blemish, as reputation.
Sarcasms may eclipse thine own, But can not blur my lost renown. Hudibras.
Syn. -- To spot; blot; disfigure; stain; sully.