bas bleu

British  

/ bɑ blø /

noun

1. a bluestocking; intellectual woman

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Etymology

Origin of bas bleu

C18: from French translation of English _bluestocking

Example Sentences

It was attended by two Marchionesses, of the bas bleu order; and by the whole corps of the confr�res bibliographiques of the Royal Library.

From A Bibliographical, Antiquarian and Picturesque Tour in France and Germany, Volume Two by Dibdin, Thomas Frognall

I might have said she wasn't a bas bleu.

From Their Pilgrimage by Warner, Charles Dudley

Au reste, she has nothing of the bas bleu about her, and is very quiet and agreeable.”

From Springtime and Other Essays by Darwin, Francis, Sir

She was teacher rather than artist; but no one could be farther from a bas bleu, or more severe upon pedantry or pretension of any sort.

From The Women of the French Salons by Mason, Amelia Ruth Gere

One is deemed a pedant—a terrible charge at Paris!—or a bas bleu, which is still worse, however free the individual may be from any pretensions to merit such charges.

From The Idler in France by Blessington, Marguerite, Countess of