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blue law

American  

noun

  1. any puritanical law that forbids certain practices, especially drinking or working on Sunday, dancing, etc.


Etymology

Origin of blue law

An Americanism dating back to 1775–85

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

MERRILLVILLE, Ind. — It is still illegal to buy alcohol at a liquor store on Sunday in Indiana, a red state holding fast to an old blue law.

From New York Times Dec. 23, 2015

An 1822 blue law still forbids Mississippians to attend bearbaiting, cockfights, bullfights and any other routine amusements of a Sabbath.

From Time Magazine Archive

The New York blue law code is particularly messy.

From Time Magazine Archive

Ever since, every blue law seems inevitably to have picked up similar variations.

From Time Magazine Archive

"Shall we have to give up our vacation at Hollyhill on account of this?" asked Katherine Crane almost as dejectedly as if she were being sentenced to prison for violating a Connecticut blue law.

From Campfire Girls in the Allegheny Mountains or, A Christmas Success against Odds by Francis, Stella M.

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