Part 712

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.

Blue" jay` (&?;). (Zoöl.) The common jay of the United States (Cyanocitta, or Cyanura, cristata). The predominant color is bright blue.

Blue"-john` (&?;), n. A name given to fluor spar in Derbyshire, where it is used for ornamental purposes.

Blue"ly, adv. With a blue color. Swift.

Blue"ness, n. The quality of being blue; a blue color. Boyle.

Blue"nose (&?;), n. A nickname for a Nova Scotian.

Blue"poll` (&?;), n. [Blue + poll head.] (Zoöl.) A kind of salmon (Salmo Cambricus) found in Wales.

Blue"print. See under Print.

Blue"stock`ing (&?;), n. 1. A literary lady; a female pedant. [Colloq.]

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.

2. (Zoöl.) The American avocet (Recurvirostra Americana).

Blue"stock`ing*ism (&?;), n. The character or manner of a bluestocking; female pedantry. [Colloq.]

Blue"stone` (&?;), n. 1. Blue vitriol. Dunglison.

2. A grayish blue building stone, as that commonly used in the eastern United States.

Blue"throat` (&?;), 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.

Blu"ets (&?;), n. [F. bluet, bleuet, dim. of bleu blue. See Blue, 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.

Blue"-veined` (&?;), a. Having blue veins or blue streaks.

Blue"wing` (&?;), n. (Zoöl.) The blue-winged teal. See Teal.

Blue"y (&?;), a. Bluish. Southey.

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.

2. Rising steeply with a flat or rounded front. "A bluff or bold shore." Falconer.

Its banks, if not really steep, had a bluff and precipitous aspect. Judd.

3. Surly; churlish; gruff; rough.

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.

There is indeed a bluff pertinacity which is a proper defense in a moment of surprise. I. Taylor.

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.

Beach, bluff, and wave, adieu. Whittier.

2. An act of bluffing; an expression of self- confidence for the purpose of intimidation; braggadocio; as, that is only bluff, or a bluff.