Page:Farmer - Slang and its analogues past and present - Volume 1.pdf/277

 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.