Blueness, subs. (common).—Indecency. Smutty talk is described as blue, sense 2 (q.v.).
1840. Carlyle, Diderot, Ess., 240. The occasional blueness of both [writings] shall not altogether affright us.
French Synonyms. Les horreurs; les bêtises; les gueulées. To talk blue is rendered by décravater ses propos.
Blue Noses, subs. (American).—The
natives of Nova Scotia. A
nickname given them by the
Yankees in allusion, it is said, to
a potato of that name which
Nova Scotians claim to be the
best in the world. Proctor,
however, thinks differently, and
says he would wager that the
Nova Scotians were called blue
noses before the potato which
they rear was so named, and
hazards the suggestion that the
nickname refers to the blueness
of nose resulting from intense
cold.
1837-40. Haliburton ('Sam Slick'). Do you know the reason monkeys are no good? Because they chatter all day long,—as do the niggers,—and so do the blue noses of Nova Scotia.
18(?). Sir George Simpson, Overland journey, vol. I., p. 19. After a run [in the steamer] of fourteen days, we entered the harbour of Halifax, amid the hearty cheers of a large number of blue noses.
Blue [or Blew] One's Screw,
verbal phr. (common).—To waste
or squander one's salary. [From
blue or blew (q.v.) + screw
(q.v.).]
Blue Peter, subs, (card-players').—The
signal or call for trumps
at whist. [Properly a blue flag
with white square in centre,
hoisted as a signal for immediate
sailing.]
1875. Beeton, Handy Book of Games, p. 358. Since the introduction of Blue Peter, the necessity of leading through your adversary's hand has become less and less.
Blue Pigeon, subs. (thieves').—Lead
used for roofing purposes.
Cf., Bluey and Blue pigeon
flyer. Of doubtful origin, but
possibly a punning allusion.
Lead has long been known as
'bluey,' and pigeons frequently
find a resting-place on house-tops.
1887. Judy, 27 April, p. 200. A burglar whose particular 'lay' was flying the blue pigeon, i.e., stealing lead.
(Nautical.)—The sounding lead.
Blue Pigeon Flyer, subs. phr.
(thieves').—A thief who steals
lead from the roofs of buildings.
Hotten thus explains the modus
operandi. Sometimes a journeyman
plumber, glazier, or other
workman, who, when repairing
houses, strips off the lead, and
makes away with it. This performance
is, though, by no
means confined to workmen.
An empty house is often entered
and the whole of the roof
in its vicinity stripped, the only
notice given to the folks below
being received by them on the
occasion of a heavy downfall of
rain. The term flyer has,
indeed, of late years been more
peculiarly applied to the man
who steals the lead in pursuance
of his vocation as a thief, than
to him who takes it because it
comes in the way of his work.
1789. Geo. Parker, Life's Painter, p. 165. Blue pigeon flying. Fellows who steal lead off houses, or cut pipes away.
French equivalents are un limousineur; un gras-doublier; un mastaroufleur.
