blue definition

A language proposed by Softech to meet the DoD Ironman requirements which led to Ada. ["On the BLUE Language Submitted to the DoD", E.W. Dijkstra, SIGPLAN Notices 13(10):10-15 (Oct 1978)].

1. Having the colour of the clear sky, or a hue resembling it, whether lighter or darker; as, the deep, blue sea; as blue as a sapphire; blue violets. "The blue firmament."

2. Pale, without redness or glare, said of a flame; hence, of the colour of burning brimstone, betokening the presence of ghosts or devils; as, the candle burns blue; the air was blue with oaths.

3. Low in spirits; melancholy; as, to feel blue.

4. Suited to produce low spirits; gloomy in prospect; as, thongs looked blue.

5. Severe or over strict in morals; gloom; as, blue and sour religionists; suiting one who is over strict in morals; inculcating an impracticable, severe, or gloomy mortality; as, blue laws.

6. Literary; applied to women; an abbreviation of bluestocking. "The ladies were very blue and well informed." (Thackeray) Blue asbestus. See Crocidolite. Blue black, of, or having, a very dark blue colour, almost black. Blue blood. See Blood. Blue buck, sulphate of copper, a violet blue crystallized salt, used in electric batteries, calico printing, etc. Blue water, the open ocean. To look blue, to look disheartened or dejected. True blue, genuine and thorough; not modified, nor mixed; not spurious; specifically, of uncompromising Presbyterianism, blue being the colour adopted by the Covenanters. "For his religion . . . 'T was Presbyterian, true blue." (Hudibras)

Origin: OE. Bla, blo, blew, blue, Sw. Bl, D. Blauw, OHG. Blo, G. Blau; but influenced in form by F. Bleu, from OHG. Blao.

1. One of the seven colours into which the rays of light divide themselves, when refracted through a glass prism; the colour of the clear sky, or a colour resembling that, whether lighter or darker; a pigment having such colour. Sometimes, poetically, the sky.

2. A pedantic woman; a bluestocking.

3. [Short for blue devils] Low spirits; a fit of despondency; melancholy. Berlin blue, Prussian blue. Mineral blue. See Mineral. Prussian blue. See Prussian.