Blue - Blur

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For his religion . . .
'T was Presbyterian, true blue. Hudibras.
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Blue (blū), 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; as, to fly off into the blue.
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2. A pedantic woman; a bluestocking. [Colloq.]
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3. pl. [Short for blue devils.] Low spirits; a fit of despondency; melancholy. [Colloq.]
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Coloq. Berlin blue , Prussian blue. -- Coloq. Mineral blue . See under . -- Coloq. Prussian blue . See under .
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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.
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Blueback (�), 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.
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Bluebeard (�), 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.
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The Bluebeard chamber of his mind, into which no eye but his own must look. Carlyle.
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Bluebell (�), 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).
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Blueberry (�), n. [Cf. .] (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 Vaccinium Pennsylvanicum and Vaccinium vacillans. Vaccinium corymbosum is the tall blueberry.
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Bluebill (�), n. (Zoöl.) A duck of the genus Fuligula. Two American species (Fuligula marila and Fuligula affinis) are common. See .
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Bluebird (�), 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.
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Coloq. Pairy bluebird (Zoöl.), a brilliant Indian or East Indian bird of the genus Irena, of several species.
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blue-blind adj. unable to see the color blue or to distinguish the colors blue and yellow.
Syn. -- tritanopic.
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blue-blindness n. inability to distinguish blue and yellow.
Syn. -- tritanopia.
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Blue blood (blūblŭd), n. 1. a member of the nobility or aristocracy, or a person of high social status.
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2. the quality of status that qualifies one as a ; -- used metaphorically, as “They have blue blood in their veins.”.
-- Blue-blooded, adj.
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blue-blooded adj. of aristocratic birth and refined upbringing.
Syn. -- aristocratic, coroneted, gentle, highborn, patrician, titled, wellborn, upper-class.
[WordNet 1.5]

{ Blue bonnet or Blue-bonnet } (�), n. 1. A broad, flat Scottish cap of blue woolen, or one wearing such cap; a Scotchman.
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2. (Bot.) A plant. Same as .
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3. (Zoöl.) The European blue titmouse (Parus cœruleus); the bluecap.
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Blue book (�). 1. A parliamentary publication, so called from its blue paper covers. [Eng.]
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2. The United States official “Biennial Register.”
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Bluebottle, blue-bottle (�), n. 1. (Bot.) an annual Eurasian plant (Centaurea cyanus) which grows in grain fields; -- called also bachelor's button. It receives its name from its blue bottle-shaped flowers. Varieties cultivated in North America have showy heads of blue or purple or pink or white flowers
Syn. -- cornflower, bachelor's button.
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2. (Zoöl.) A large and troublesome species of blowfly (Musca vomitoria). Its body is steel blue.
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Bluebreast (�), n. (Zoöl.) A small European bird; the blue-throated warbler.
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Bluecap (�), n. 1. (Zoöl.) (a) The bluepoll. (b) The blue bonnet or blue titmouse.
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2. A Scot; a Scotchman; -- so named from wearing a blue bonnet. [Poetic] Shak.
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Bluecoat (�), n. One dressed in blue, as a soldier, a sailor, a beadle, etc.
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blue-collar adj. 1. of or designating work or workers in industry not requiring well-groomed appearance. [Narrower terms: industrial] white-collar
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2. of those who work for wages especially manual or industrial laborers. [Narrower terms: lower-class, low-class]
Syn. -- propertyless, wage-earning, working-class.
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Blue-eye (�), n. (Zoöl.) The blue-cheeked honeysucker of Australia.
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Blue-eyed (�), a. 1. Having blue eyes.
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2. favorite. [informal]
Syn. -- fair-haired(prenominal), white-headed(prenominal).
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Blue-eyed grass (�) (Bot.) a grasslike plant (Sisyrinchium anceps), with small flowers of a delicate blue color.
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Bluefin (�), n. (Zoöl.) A species of whitefish (Coregonus nigripinnis) found in Lake Michigan.
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Bluefish (�), 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.
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2. A West Indian fish (Platyglossus radiatus), of the family Labridæ.
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☞ The name is applied locally to other species of fishes; as the cunner, sea bass, squeteague, etc.
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Bluegown (�), 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.
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Blue grass (�). (Bot.) A species of grass (Poa compressa) with bluish green stems, valuable in thin gravelly soils; wire grass.
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Coloq. 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.
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Blue-grass State. The Sate of Kentucky; -- a nickname alluding to the blue-grass region, where fine horses are bred.
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blue-green alga. pl. blue-green algae [from the color and resemblance to algae.] any of a group of photosynthetic microorganisms possessing characteristics of both bacteria and plants. When classed as bacteria, they are assigned to the Cyanobacteria; when classed as plants, they are assigned to the Cyanophyta. They are now known to be prokaryotic, and are usually called cyanobacteria in technical contexts. See .
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Blue Hen State. The State of Delaware; -- a popular sobriquet. It is said, though the story lacks proof, to have taken its origin from the insistence of a Delaware Revolutionary captain, named Caldwell, that no cock could be truly game unless the mother was a blue hen, whence Coloq. Blue Hen's Chickens came to be a nickname for the people of Delaware.
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blueing n. Same as bluing.
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bluejacket n. a serviceman in the navy.
Syn. -- navy man, sailor, sailor boy.
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Blue jay (�). (Zoöl.) The common jay of the United States (Cyanocitta, or Cyanura, cristata). The predominant color is bright blue.
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blue jeans (�), n. pl. a tight-fitting trousers made of blue denim or a similar fabric, designed originally to serve as inexpensive durable workclothes, and often having metal rivets for reinforcement. They have become very popular as casual wear for all age groups, and more expensive and more carefully styled and tailored versions called designer jeanshave also become popular among girls and women.
Syn. -- jeans, Levis. [ Webster]

Blue-john (�), n. A name given to fluor spar in Derbyshire, where it is used for ornamental purposes.
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Bluely, adv. With a blue color. Swift.
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blue moon (�) The second full moon occurring in the same month; -- derived from the expression once in a blue moon; as, we had a blue moon on January 31, 1999, and another in March.
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Coloq. once in a blue moon very rarely; -- from the observation that the moon rarely has a bluish tint. In 1980, the phrase was applied to the second full moon of any month, because this phenomenon is unusual. This new meaning for the old phrase blue moon has become widely accepted.
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Blueness, n. The quality of being blue; a blue color. Boyle.
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Bluenose (?), n. A nickname for a Nova Scotian; also, a Nova Scotian ship (called also Bluenoser (�)); a Nova Scotian potato, etc.
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blue-pencil v. t. to change, delete, or abridge (a portion of a text) with a blue pencil (or as if with a blue pencil), as in the editing process; -- of books, etc.
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Bluepoll (�), n. [Blue + poll head.] (Zoöl.) A kind of salmon (Salmo Cambricus) found in Wales.
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Blueprint. See under .
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blue-ribbon adj. prenom. selected or chosen for special qualifications; as, a blue-ribbon grand jury.
Syn. -- blue ribbon(predicate), select.
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blues n. a type of folk song that originated among Black Americans at the beginning of the 20th century; has a melancholoy sound from repeated used of blue notes.
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2. a state of depression; as, he had a bad case of the blues.
Syn. -- megrims.
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Blue-skylaw. A law enacted to provide for the regulation and supervision of investment companies in order to protect the public against companies that do not intend to do a fair and honest business and that offer investments that do not promise a fair return; -- so called because the promises made by some investment companies are as boundless or alluring as the blue sky, or, perhaps, because designed to clear away the clouds and fogs from the simple investor's horizon. [Colloq.]
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bluestem n. tall grass with smooth bluish leaf sheaths grown for hay in Western U.S.
Syn. -- blue stem, Andropogon furcatus, Andropogon gerardii.
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Bluestocking (�), n. 1. A literary lady; a female pedant. [Colloq.]
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☞ 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.
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2. (Zoöl.) The American avocet (Recurvirostra Americana).
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Bluestockingism (�), n. The character or manner of a bluestocking; female pedantry. [Colloq.]
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Bluestone (�), n. 1. Blue vitriol. Dunglison.
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2. A grayish blue building stone, as that commonly used in the eastern United States.
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Bluethroat (�), 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.
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Bluets (�), n. [F. bluet, bleuet, dim. of bleu blue. See , 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.
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Blue-veined (�), a. Having blue veins or blue streaks.
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blueweed n. a coarse prickly European weed (Echium vulgare) with spikes of blue flowers; naturalized in the U. S.
Syn. -- blue devil, blue thistle, viper's bugloss.
[WordNet 1.5]

Bluewing (�), n. (Zoöl.) The blue-winged teal. See .
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Bluey (�),a. Bluish. Southey.
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Bluey (?), n. [From , a.] [Australasia] 1. A bushman's blanket; -- named from its color.
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We had to wring our blueys. Lawson.
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2. A bushman's bundle; a swag; -- so called because a blanket is sometimes used as the outside covering.
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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.
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2. Rising steeply with a flat or rounded front. “A bluff or bold shore.” Falconer.
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Its banks, if not really steep, had a bluff and precipitous aspect. Judd.
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3. Surly; churlish; gruff; rough.
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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.
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There is indeed a bluff pertinacity which is a proper defense in a moment of surprise. I. Taylor.
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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.
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Beach, bluff, and wave, adieu. Whittier.
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2. An act of bluffing; an expression of self-confidence for the purpose of intimidation; braggadocio; as, that is only bluff, or a bluff.
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3. A game at cards; poker. [U.S.] Bartlett.
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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.]
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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.]
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Bluff, v. i. To act as in the game of bluff.
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Bluff-bowed (�), a. (Naut.) Built with the stem nearly straight up and down.
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Bluffer, (�) n. One who bluffs.
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Bluff-headed (�), a. (Naut.) Built with the stem nearly straight up and down.
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Bluffness, n. The quality or state of being bluff.
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Bluffy (�), a. 1. Having bluffs, or bold, steep banks.
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2. Inclined to bo bluff; brusque.
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Bluing (�), n. 1. The act of rendering blue; as, the bluing of steel. Tomlinson.
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2. Something, as indigo or other preparations, used to give a bluish tint, especially to white clothing when being washed.
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Bluish (�), a. Somewhat blue; as, bluish veins. “Bluish mists.” Dryden. -- Bluishly, adv. -- Bluishness, n.
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Blunder (�), 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.
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2. To move in an awkward, clumsy manner; to flounder and stumble.
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I was never distinguished for address, and have often even blundered in making my bow. Goldsmith.
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Yet knows not how to find the uncertain place,
And blunders on, and staggers every pace. Dryden.
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Coloq. 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.
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Blunder, v. t. 1. To cause to blunder. [Obs.] “To blunder an adversary.” Ditton.
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2. To do or treat in a blundering manner; to confuse.
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He blunders and confounds all these together. Stillingfleet.
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Blunder, n. 1. Confusion; disturbance. [Obs.]
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2. A gross error or mistake, resulting from carelessness, stupidity, or culpable ignorance.
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Syn. -- , , , . 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.
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Blunderbuss (�), 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.
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2. A stupid, blundering fellow.
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Blunderer (�), n. One who is apt to blunder.
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Blunderhead (�), n. [Blunder + head.] A stupid, blundering fellow.
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Blundering, a. Characterized by blunders.
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Blunderingly, adv. In a blundering manner.
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Blunge (�), v. t. To amalgamate and blend; to beat up or mix in water, as clay.
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Blunger (�), n. [Corrupted from plunger.] A wooden blade with a cross handle, used for mi�ing the clay in potteries; a plunger. Tomlinson.
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Blunging (�), n. The process of mixing clay in potteries with a blunger. Tomlinson.
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Blunt (blŭnt), 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.
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The murderous knife was dull and blunt. Shak.
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2. Dull in understanding; slow of discernment; stupid; -- opposed to acute.
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His wits are not so blunt. Shak.
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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.
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4. Hard to impress or penetrate. [R.]
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I find my heart hardened and blunt to new impressions. Pope.
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☞ Blunt is much used in composition, as blunt-edged, blunt-sighted, blunt-spoken.
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Syn. -- Obtuse; dull; pointless; curt; short; coarse; rude; brusque; impolite; uncivil.
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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.
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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.
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Blunt, n. 1. A fencer's foil. [Obs.]
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2. A short needle with a strong point. See .
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3. Money. [Cant] Beaconsfield.
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blunted adj. 1. made dull or blunt.
Syn. -- dulled.
[WordNet 1.5]

2. reduced in force or effectiveness.
[PJC]

Bluntish, a. Somewhat blunt. -- Bluntishness, n.
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Bluntly, adv. In a blunt manner; coarsely; plainly; abruptly; without delicacy, or the usual forms of civility.
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Sometimes after bluntly giving his opinions, he would quietly lay himself asleep until the end of their deliberations. Jeffrey.
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Bluntness, n. 1. Want of edge or point; dullness; obtuseness; lack of sharpness.
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The multitude of elements and bluntness of angles. Holland.
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2. Abruptness of address; rude plainness. “Bluntness of speech.” Boyle.
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Blunt-witted (�), n. Dull; stupid.
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Blunt-witted lord, ignoble in demeanor! Shak.
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Blur (blûr), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blurred (blûrd); p. pr. & vb. n. Blurring.] [Prob. of same origin as blear. See .] 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.
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But time hath nothing blurred those lines of favor
Which then he wore. Shak.
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2. To cause imperfection of vision in; to dim; to darken.
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Her eyes are blurred with the lightning's glare. J. R. Drake.
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3. To sully; to stain; to blemish, as reputation.
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Sarcasms may eclipse thine own,
But can not blur my lost renown. Hudibras.
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Syn. -- To spot; blot; disfigure; stain; sully.
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