Chapter Bloods to Blue Beard of B by Brewer's Readers Handbook

He liked Georgina Vesey, and as she had £10,000 he thought he should do himself no harm by “mawywing the girl.” /s-/LordLytton: Money (1840).

Blount (Master), a wealthy jeweller of Ludgate Hill, London. An old-fashioned tradesman, not ashamed of his calling. He had two sons, John and Thomas; the formar was his favourite. Mistress Blount, his wife. A shrewd discerning woman, who loved her son Thomas, and saw in him the elements of a rising man.

John Blount, eldest son of the Ludgate jeweller. Being left successor to his father, he sold the goods and set up for a man of fashion and fortune. His vanity and snobbism were most gross. He had good- nature, but more cunning than discretion; he thought himself far-seeing, but was most easily duped. “The phaeton was built after my design, my lord,” he says, “mayhap your lordship has seen it.” “My taste is driving, my lord, mayhap your lordship has seen me handle the ribbons.” “My horses are all bloods, my lord, mayhap your lordship has noticed my team.” “I pride myself on my seat in the saddle, mayhap your lordship has seen me ride.” “If I am superlative in anything, ‘tis in my wines.” “So please your ladyship, ‘tis dress I most excel in. … ‘tis walking I pride myself in.” No matter what is mentioned, ‘tis the one thing he did or had better than any one else. This conceited fool was duped into believing a parcel of men- servants to be lords and dukes, and made love to a lady’s maid, supposing her to be a countess. (See Boroughcliff, p. 138.)

Thomas Blount, John’s brother, and one of nature’s gentlemen. He entered the army, became a colonel, and married lady Blanche. He is described as having “a lofty forehead for princely thought to dwell in, eyes for love or war, a nose of Grecian mould with touch of Rome, a mouth like Cupid’s bow, ambitious chin dimpled and knobbed.”—Knowles: Old Maids (1841).

Blouzelinda or Blowzelinda, a shepherdess in love with Lobbin Clout, in The Shepherd’s Week.

My Blouzelinda is the blithest lass,
Than primrose sweeter, or the clover-grass …
My Blouzelind’s than gilliflower more fair,
Than daisie, marygold, or kingcup rare.
   —Gay: Pastoral, i. (1714).

Sweet is my toil when Blowzelind is near,
Of her bereft’tis winter all the year …
Come, Blowzelinda, ease thy swain’s desire,
My summer’s shadow, and my winter’s fire.
   —Ditto.

Blower (Mrs. Margaret), the shipowner’s widow at the Spa. She married Dr. Quackleben, “the man of medicine” (one of the managing committee at the Spa).—Sir W. Scott: St. Ronan’s Well time, George III.).

Blucher was nicknamed “Marshal Forwards” for his dash and readiness in the campaign of 1813.

Blue (Dark), the Oxford boat crew (see Boat Colours); Eton, in cricket.

Blue (Light), the Cambridge boat crew (see Boat Colours); Harrow, in cricket.

Blue (True). When it is said that anything or person is True blue or True as Coventry blue, the reference is to a blue cloth and blue thread made in Coventry, noted for its fast colour. Lincoln was no less famous for its green cloth and dye.

True blue has also reference to untainted aristocratic descent. This is derived from the Spanish notion that the really high-bred have bluer blood than those of meaner race. Hence the French phrases, Sang bleu (“aristocratic blood”), Sang noir (“plebeian blood”), etc.

As a very general rule, “blue” is, in parliamentary elections, the badge colour of the tory party.

Blue Beard (La Barbe Bleue), from the contes of Charles Perrault (1697). The chevalier Raoul is a merciless tyrant, with a blue beard. His young wife is entrusted with all the keys of the castle, with strict injunctions on pain of death not to open one special room. During the absence of her lord the “forbidden