Blue, blōō, n. the colour of the sky when unclouded—hence the sea, the sky, as in 'a bolt from the blue:' one of the seven primary colours.—adj. of the colour blue: learned, pedantic: indecent or obscene, as in blue stories.—ns. Blue′-beard, a monster who murders a series of wives in Perrault's famous conte, before he is himself cut off: one who is 'unfortunate' with his wives after the fashion of Henry VIII.; Blue′bell, a plant that bears blue bell-shaped flowers; Blue′-bird, a small American bird akin to the warblers; Blue′-black, black with a tinge of blue; Blue′-book, the name popularly applied to the reports and other papers printed by parliament, because usually stitched up in blue paper wrappers; Blue′-bot′tle, a common name for the Blue Cornflower: a familiar name for a policeman or beadle; Blue′-cap, a fish of the salmon kind with blue spots on its head: the blue titmouse: (Shak.) a Scotchman, from his blue bonnet; Blue′-eye, a beautiful little bird in New South Wales, one or the honey-eaters; Blue′-fish, a fish of the family Scomberidæ, abundant on the east coast of North America.—n.pl. Blue′-gowns, the name commonly given to a former class of privileged mendicants in Scotland—called also the King's Bedesmen.—ns. Blue′-grass, a permanent grass found in Europe and North America; Blue′-gum, a kind of Eucalyptus; Blue′-jack′et, a seaman in the navy, as distinguished from a marine; Blue′-jay, a common North American bird of the
Bluff, bluf, adj. blustering: rough and hearty in manners: outspoken: steep.—n. a high steep bank overlooking the sea or a river: the act of bluffing at cards, as in poker—hence any kind of boastful swagger intended to impose upon another: (slang) an excuse.—adjs. Bluff′-bowed, having broad and flat bows, as a ship; Bluff′-head′ed, applied to a ship having her stem too straight up.—adv. Bluff′ly.—n. Bluff′ness. [Prob. Dut.]
Blunder, blun′der, v.i. to make a gross mistake, to flounder about: to utter thoughtlessly.—n. a gross mistake.—p.adj. Blun′dering, apt to make gross mistakes: apt to stumble.—To blunder away, to throw away some opportunity or advantage. [M. E. blondren; prob. conn. with Bland; perh. from Ice. blunda, to doze.]
Blunderbuss, blun′dėr-bus, n. a short hand-gun with a wide bore. [Corr. of Dut. donderbus—donder, thunder, bus, a box, barrel of a gun, a gun; Ger. donnerbüchse.]
Blunt, blunt, adj. having a dull edge or point; rough, outspoken, dull.—v.t. to dull the edge or point: to weaken.—n. (slang) money.—adj. Blunt′ish.—adv. Bluntly.—n. Blunt′ness.—adj. Blunt′-wit′ted (Shak.) dull, stupid. [Orig. sleepy, dull; prob. conn. with Ice. blunda, to doze; perh. akin to Blind.]
Blur, blur, n. a blot, stain, or spot.—v.t. to blot, stain, obscure, or blemish (with out, over):—pr.p. blur′ring; pa.p. blurred. [A variety of Blear.]
Blurt, blurt, v.t. to utter suddenly or unadvisedly (with out).—n. an abrupt outburst.—p.adj. Blurt′ing, impulsively frank. [From sound. Cf. Blirt.]
Blush, blush, n. a red glow on the face caused by shame, modesty, &c.: any reddish colour: sudden appearance.—v.i. to show shame or confusion by growing red in the face: to grow red.—n. Blush′et (Ben Jonson), a young, modest girl.—adj. Blush′ful, full of blushes: modest—n. Blush′ing, the act of turning red: the appearance of colour upon the cheek.—p.adj. showing blushes: modest.—adv. Blush′ingly.—At the first blush, at the first glance.—To put to the blush, to cause to blush. [Prob. Scand.; cog. with A.S. blysa, a blaze. See Blaze, Blowze.]
Bluster, blus′tėr, v.i. to make a noise like a blast of wind: to bully or swagger.—n. a blast or roaring as of the wind: bullying or boasting language: a storm of anger.—n. Blus′tering, a noisy blowing as of a blast: swaggering: noisy pretension.—adj. stormy: tumultuous: boastful.—adv. Blus′teringly.—adjs. Blus′terous (Shak.) noisy: boastful; Blus′tery, stormy: (Carlyle) swaggering. [An augmentative of Blast.]