Chapter 103

Blue asbestus. See Crocidolite. -- Blue black, of, or having, a very dark blue color, almost black. -- Blue blood. See under Blood. -- Blue buck (Zoöl.), a small South African antelope (Cephalophus pygmæus); also applied to a larger species (Ægoceras leucophæus); the blaubok. -- Blue cod (Zoöl.), the buffalo cod. -- Blue crab (Zoöl.), the common edible crab of the Atlantic coast of the United States (Callinectes hastatus). -- Blue curls (Bot.), a common plant (Trichostema dichotomum), resembling pennyroyal, and hence called also bastard pennyroyal. -- Blue devils, apparitions supposed to be seen by persons suffering with delirium tremens; hence, very low spirits. "Can Gumbo shut the hall door upon blue devils, or lay them all in a red sea of claret?" Thackeray. -- Blue gage. See under Gage, a plum. -- Blue gum, an Australian myrtaceous tree (Eucalyptus globulus), of the loftiest proportions, now cultivated in tropical and warm temperate regions for its timber, and as a protection against malaria. The essential oil is beginning to be used in medicine. The timber is very useful. See Eucalyptus. -- Blue jack, Blue stone, blue vitriol; sulphate of copper. -- Blue jacket, a man-of war's man; a sailor wearing a naval uniform. -- Blue jaundice. See under Jaundice. -- Blue laws, a name first used in the eighteenth century to describe certain supposititious laws of extreme rigor reported to have been enacted in New Haven; hence, any puritanical laws. [U. S.] -- Blue light, a composition which burns with a brilliant blue flame; -- used in pyrotechnics and as a night signal at sea, and in military operations. -- Blue mantle (Her.), one of the four pursuivants of the English college of arms; -- so called from the color of his official robes. -- Blue mass, a preparation of mercury from which is formed the blue pill. McElrath. -- Blue mold, or mould, the blue fungus (Aspergillus glaucus) which grows on cheese. Brande & C. -- Blue Monday, a Monday following a Sunday of dissipation, or itself given to dissipation (as the Monday before Lent). -- Blue ointment (Med.), mercurial ointment. -- Blue Peter (British Marine), a blue flag with a white square in the center, used as a signal for sailing, to recall boats, etc. It is a corruption of blue repeater, one of the British signal flags. -- Blue pill. (Med.) (a) A pill of prepared mercury, used as an aperient, etc. (b) Blue mass. -- Blue ribbon. (a) The ribbon worn by members of the order of the Garter; -- hence, a member of that order. (b) Anything the attainment of which is an object of great ambition; a distinction; a prize. "These [scholarships] were the blue ribbon of the college." Farrar. (c) The distinctive badge of certain temperance or total abstinence organizations, as of the Blue ribbon Army. -- Blue ruin, utter ruin; also, gin. [Eng. Slang] Carlyle. -- Blue spar (Min.), azure spar; lazulite. See Lazulite. -- Blue thrush (Zoöl.), a European and Asiatic thrush (Petrocossyphus cyaneas). -- Blue verditer. See Verditer. -- Blue vitriol (Chem.), sulphate of copper, a violet blue crystallized salt, used in electric batteries, calico printing, etc. -- Blue water, the open ocean. -- To look blue, to look disheartened or dejected. -- True blue, genuine and thorough; not modified, nor mixed; not spurious; specifically, of uncompromising Presbyterianism, blue being the color adopted by the Covenanters.

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For his religion . . . 'T was Presbyterian, true blue. Hudibras.

Blue (bl), 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, 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.

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.

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.

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).

Blue"berry (&?;), n. [Cf. Blaeberry.] (Bot.) The berry of several species of Vaccinium, an 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.

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

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" bon`net or Blue"-bon`net } (&?;), n. 1. A broad, flat Scottish cap of blue woolen, or one wearing such cap; a Scotchman.

2. (Bot.) A plant. Same as Bluebottle.

3. (Zoöl.) The European blue titmouse (Parus cœruleus); the bluecap.

Blue" book` (&?;). 1. A parliamentary publication, so called from its blue paper covers. [Eng.]

2. The United States official "Biennial Register."

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.

Blue"breast` (&?;), n. (Zoöl.) A small European bird; the blue-throated warbler.

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.

Blue"coat` (&?;), n. One dressed in blue, as a soldier, a sailor, a beadle, etc.

Blue"-eye` (&?;), n. (Zoöl.) The blue-cheeked honeysucker of Australia.

Blue"-eyed` (&?;), a. Having blue eyes.

Blue-eyed grass (&?;) (Bot.) a grasslike plant (Sisyrinchium anceps), with small flowers of a delicate blue color.

Blue"fin` (&?;), n. (Zoöl.) A species of whitefish (Coregonus nigripinnis) found in Lake Michigan.

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.

The name is applied locally to other species of fishes; as the cunner, sea bass, squeteague, etc.

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` (&?;). (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` (&?;). (Zoöl.) The common jay of the United States (Cyanocitta, or Cyanura, cristata). The predominant color is bright blue.

Blue"-john` (&?;), n. A name given to fluor spar in Derbyshire, where it is used for ornamental purposes.

Blue"ly, adv. With a blue color. Swift.

Blue"ness, n. The quality of being blue; a blue color. Boyle.

Blue"nose (&?;), n. A nickname for a Nova Scotian.

Blue"poll` (&?;), n. [Blue + poll head.] (Zoöl.) A kind of salmon (Salmo Cambricus) found in Wales.

Blue"print. See under Print.

Blue"stock`ing (&?;), n. 1. A literary lady; a female pedant. [Colloq.]

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).

Blue"stock`ing*ism (&?;), n. The character or manner of a bluestocking; female pedantry. [Colloq.]

Blue"stone` (&?;), n. 1. Blue vitriol. Dunglison.

2. A grayish blue building stone, as that commonly used in the eastern United States.

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.

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` (&?;), a. Having blue veins or blue streaks.

Blue"wing` (&?;), n. (Zoöl.) The blue-winged teal. See Teal.

Blue"y (&?;), a. Bluish. Southey.

Bluff (&?;), a. [Cf. OD. blaf flat, broad, blaffaert one with a broad face, also, a boaster; or G. verblüffen 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, 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, 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, v. i. To act as in the game of bluff.

Bluff"-bowed` (&?;), a. (Naut.) Built with the stem nearly straight up and down.

Bluff"er, (&?;) n. One who bluffs.

Bluff"-head`ed (&?;), a. (Naut.) Built with the stem nearly straight up and down.

Bluff"ness, n. The quality or state of being bluff.

Bluff"y (&?;), a. 1. Having bluffs, or bold, steep banks.

2. Inclined to bo bluff; brusque.

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.

Blu"ish (&?;), a. Somewhat blue; as, bluish veins. "Bluish mists." Dryden. -- Blu"ish*ly, adv. -- Blu"ish*ness, n.

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.

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.

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.

Blun"der*buss (&?;), n. [Either fr. blunder + D. bus tube, box, akin to G. büchse 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.

Blun"der*er (&?;), n. One who is apt to blunder.

Blun"der*head` (&?;), n. [Blunder + head.] A stupid, blundering fellow.

Blun"der*ing, a. Characterized by blunders.

Blun"der*ing*ly, adv. In a blundering manner.

Blunge (&?;), v. t. To amalgamate and blend; to beat up or mix in water, as clay.

Blun"ger (&?;), n. [Corrupted from plunger.] A wooden blade with a cross handle, used for mi&?;ing the clay in potteries; a plunger. Tomlinson.

Blun"ging (&?;), n. The process of mixing clay in potteries with a blunger. Tomlinson.

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.

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, 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, n. 1. A fencer's foil. [Obs.]

2. A short needle with a strong point. See Needle.

3. Money. [Cant] Beaconsfield.

Blunt"ish, a. Somewhat blunt. -- Blunt"ish*ness, n.

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.

Blunt"ness, n. 1. Want of edge or point; dullness; obtuseness; want of sharpness.

The multitude of elements and bluntness of angles. Holland.

2. Abruptness of address; rude plainness. "Bluntness of speech." Boyle.

Blunt"-wit`ted (&?;), n. Dull; stupid.

Blunt-witted lord, ignoble in demeanor! Shak.

Blur (blûr), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blurred (blûrd); 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.

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Blur (blûr), n. 1. That which obscures without effacing; a stain; a blot, as upon paper or other substance.

As for those who cleanse blurs with blotted fingers, they make it worse. Fuller.

2. A dim, confused appearance; indistinctness of vision; as, to see things with a blur; it was all blur.

3. A moral stain or blot.

Lest she . . . will with her railing set a great blur on mine honesty and good name. Udall.

Blur"ry (blûr"r), a. Full of blurs; blurred.

Blurt (blûrt), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blurted; p. pr. & vb. n. Blurting.] [Cf. Blare.] To utter suddenly and unadvisedly; to divulge inconsiderately; to ejaculate; -- commonly with out.

Others . . . can not hold, but blurt out, those words which afterward they are forced to eat. Hakewill.

To blurt at, to speak contemptuously of. [Obs.] Shak.

Blush (blsh) v. i. [imp. & p. p. Blushed (blsht); p. pr. & vb. n. Blushing.] [OE. bluschen to shine, look, turn red, AS. blyscan to glow; akin to blysa a torch, blsian to blush, D. blozen, Dan. blusse to blaze, blush.]

1. To become suffused with red in the cheeks, as from a sense of shame, modesty, or confusion; to become red from such cause, as the cheeks or face.

To the nuptial bower I led her blushing like the morn. Milton.

In the presence of the shameless and unblushing, the young offender is ashamed to blush. Buckminster.

He would stroke The head of modest and ingenuous worth, That blushed at its own praise. Cowper.

2. To grow red; to have a red or rosy color.

The sun of heaven, methought, was loth to set, But stayed, and made the western welkin blush. Shak.

3. To have a warm and delicate color, as some roses and other flowers.

Full many a flower is born to blush unseen. T. Gray.

Blush, v. t. 1. To suffuse with a blush; to redden; to make roseate. [Obs.]

To blush and beautify the cheek again. Shak.

2. To express or make known by blushing.

I'll blush you thanks. Shak.

Blush, n. 1. A suffusion of the cheeks or face with red, as from a sense of shame, confusion, or modesty.

The rosy blush of love. Trumbull.

2. A red or reddish color; a rosy tint.

Light's last blushes tinged the distant hills. Lyttleton.

At first blush, or At the first blush, at the first appearance or view. "At the first blush, we thought they had been ships come from France." Hakluyt. This phrase is used now more of ideas, opinions, etc., than of material things. "All purely identical propositions, obviously, and at first blush, appear," etc. Locke. -- To put to the blush, to cause to blush with shame; to put to shame.

Blush"er (blsh"r), n. One that blushes.

Blush"et (-t), n. A modest girl. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

Blush"ful (-fl), a. Full of blushes.

While from his ardent look the turning Spring Averts her blushful face. Thomson.

Blush"ing, a. Showing blushes; rosy red; having a warm and delicate color like some roses and other flowers; blooming; ruddy; roseate.

The dappled pink and blushing rose. Prior.

Blush"ing, n. The act of turning red; the appearance of a reddish color or flush upon the cheeks.

Blush"ing*ly, adv. In a blushing manner; with a blush or blushes; as, to answer or confess blushingly.

Blush"less, a. Free from blushes; incapable of blushing; shameless; impudent.

Vice now, secure, her blushless front shall raise. Dodsley.

Blush"y (&?;), a. Like a blush; having the color of a blush; rosy. [R.] "A blushy color." Harvey.

Blus"ter (&?;), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Blustered (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Blustering.] [Allied to blast.]

1. To blow fitfully with violence and noise, as wind; to be windy and boisterous, as the weather.

And ever-threatening storms Of Chaos blustering round. Milton.

2. To talk with noisy violence; to swagger, as a turbulent or boasting person; to act in a noisy, tumultuous way; to play the bully; to storm; to rage.

Your ministerial directors blustered like tragic tyrants. Burke.

Blus"ter, v. t. To utter, or do, with noisy violence; to force by blustering; to bully.

He bloweth and blustereth out . . . his abominable blasphemy. Sir T. More.

As if therewith he meant to bluster all princes into a perfect obedience to his commands. Fuller.

Blus"ter, n. 1. Fitful noise and violence, as of a storm; violent winds; boisterousness.

To the winds they set Their corners, when with bluster to confound Sea, air, and shore. Milton.

2. Noisy and violent or threatening talk; noisy and boastful language. L'Estrange.

Syn. -- Noise; boisterousness; tumult; turbulence; confusion; boasting; swaggering; bullying.

Blus"ter*er (&?;), n. One who, or that which, blusters; a noisy swaggerer.

Blus"ter*ing, a. 1. Exhibiting noisy violence, as the wind; stormy; tumultuous.

A tempest and a blustering day. Shak.

2. Uttering noisy threats; noisy and swaggering; boisterous. "A blustering fellow." L'Estrange.

Blus"ter*ing*ly, adv. In a blustering manner.

Blus"ter*ous (&?;), a. Inclined to bluster; given to blustering; blustering. Motley.

Blus"trous (&?;), a. Blusterous. Shak.

Bo (&?;), interj. [Cf. W. bw, an interj. of threatening or frightening; n., terror, fear, dread.] An exclamation used to startle or frighten. [Spelt also boh and boo.]

Bo"a (b"), n.; pl. Boas. [L. boa a kind of water serpent. Perh. fr. bos an ox.] 1. (Zoöl.) A genus of large American serpents, including the boa constrictor, the emperor boa of Mexico (B. imperator), and the chevalier boa of Peru (B. eques).

The name is also applied to related genera; as, the dog-headed boa (Xiphosoma caninum).

2. A long, round fur tippet; -- so called from its resemblance in shape to the boa constrictor.

Bo"a con*strict"or (&?;). [NL. See Boa, and Constrictor.] (Zoöl.) A large and powerful serpent of tropical America, sometimes twenty or thirty feet long. See Illustration in Appendix.

It has a succession of spots, alternately black and yellow, extending along the back. It kills its prey by constriction. The name is also loosely applied to other large serpents which crush their prey, particularly to those of the genus Python, found in Asia and Africa.

||Bo`a*ner"ges (&?;). [Gr. &?;, fr. Heb. bn hargem sons of thunder. -- an appellation given by Christ to two of his disciples (James and John). See Mark iii. 17.] Any declamatory and vociferous preacher or orator.

Boar (br), n. [OE. bar, bor, bore, AS. br; akin to OHG. pr, MHG. br, G. bär, boar (but not bär bear), and perh. Russ. borov' boar.] (Zoöl.) The uncastrated male of swine; specifically, the wild hog.