Blueback to Blur
Blueback
(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.
Bluebeard
(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.
Bluebell
(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
Blueberry
(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.
Bluebill
(Blue"bill`) n. (Zoöl.) A duck of the genus Fuligula. Two American species (F. marila and F.
affinis) are common. See Scaup duck.
Bluebird
(Blue"bird`) n. (Zoöl.) A small song bird 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 bonnet
(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
(Blue" book`)
1. A parliamentary publication, so called from its blue paper covers. [Eng.]
2. The United States official "Biennial Register."
Bluebottle
(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 Its body is steel blue.
Bluebreast
(Blue"breast`) n. (Zoöl.) A small European bird; the blue-throated warbler.
Bluecap
(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.
Bluecoat
(Blue"coat`) n. One dressed in blue, as a soldier, a sailor, a beadle, etc.
