blue mass

American  

noun

Pharmacology.

1. Also called mercury mass.  a preparation of metallic mercury and other ingredients, used for making blue pills.

2. blue pill.

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Etymology

Origin of blue mass

An Americanism dating back to 1850–55

Example Sentences

Even the prominent Catholic masses he has attended could be justified by non-Catholics as political in nature: one at the culture war–infused Ave Maria University, and one at a “Blue Mass” for police officers who died while on duty.

From Slate

She recounts a historian's quest to prove that Abraham Lincoln took mercury-based medication called blue mass — possibly for constipation and depression.

From Salon

Well, for one, Lincoln probably would have gobbled a handful of the blue mass upon discovering that a woman was running the House 60 years before suffrage, and that there were 53 black House Democrats at a time when most African Americans were enslaved.

From Washington Post

The Blue Mass is a tradition that began 80 years ago after 310 police were killed in 1930 — the most deaths ever recorded in the single year in the U.S., according to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.

From Washington Times

This year’s Blue Mass is the region’s 24th celebration of the event.

From Washington Times