bluenose

English

Etymology

From blue +‎ nose.

  • See sense 2: Coined in references to the color blue as the color of the Presbyterians[1] or Blue law.
  • See sense 3: Possibly coined in reference to early Nova Scotian sailors whose noses were alleged to turn blue from the cold, or possibly coined in reference to the early settlers who would frequently eat blue potatoes and herring.[2]

Pronunciation

  • Audio (General Australian):(file)

Noun

bluenose (plural bluenoses)

  1. (informal) A prude.
  2. (derogatory) Used among Roman Catholics for a Protestant (specifically Puritan).[1]
    Synonym: Prod
  3. (slang) A native or inhabitant of the province of Nova Scotia, Canada.
    Synonym: Nova Scotian
  4. (US, naval slang) A person who has crossed the Arctic Circle.
    • 2005, Stephen J. Curley, Aggies By The Sea: Texas A & M University At Galveston, page 213:
      That summer the Clipper detoured north on its way to Norway so that cadets could be initiated as bluenoses. She passed between the Shetland and Orkney islands on her way to cross the Arctic Circle at Greenwich.
  5. (slang) A variety of potato from Nova Scotia, Canada.
  6. (slang) A follower of Everton Football Club.
  7. (slang) A follower of Birmingham City Football Club.
  8. (US, Australia) A trout cod (Maccullochella macquariensis)
  9. (US, UK, Australia, New Zealand) Antarctic butterfish (Hyperoglyphe antarctica)
  10. (Australia) blue-throated wrasse (Notolabrus tetricus)

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "blue nose". Dictionary of the Scots Language (DSL)
  2. ^ 2013. CBC News. "Bluenoser makes it into the Oxford dictionary". ("Bill Davey, a retired Cape Breton University professor, has long studied the origin of word.")

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