bluenose
[bloo-nohz]
- a puritanical person; prude.
- (initial capital letter) Also Blue Nose. Canadian. an inhabitant of the Maritime Provinces, especially of Nova Scotia.
- Nautical Slang.
- a sailing vessel of Nova Scotia.
- a seaman on such a vessel.
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Origin of bluenose
1780–85 (def 2, 3); 1925–30, Americanism (def 1); blue + nose; (def 1) cf. blue law, etc.; (def 2, 3) originally a derisive name for a person residing in Nova Scotia before the Loyalists' arrival; allegedly so called from a variety of potato with a bluish tip, though there is no certain evidence for this or any of various other explanations of the name
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words for bluenose
demure, spruce, tidy, correct, uncluttered, Victorian, ceremonial, ceremonious, choosy, cleanly, conventional, dapper, decorous, fastidious, formal, genteel, good, goody-goody, nice, orderlyExamples from the Web for bluenose
Historical Examples of bluenose
In a flash the Bluenose had him naped, slung, and flying across the rail.
All AfloatWilliam Wood
Our Bluenose mate now thinks he can get more work from his canvas.
All AfloatWilliam Wood
This hovel belonged jointly to old Jeph and Captain Bluenose.
The LifeboatR.M. Ballantyne
It was just as Bluenose concluded this speech that the young ladies entered the room.
The LifeboatR.M. Ballantyne
The skipper of the “Butterfly” was a friend of Bluenose, and knew Tommy.
The LifeboatR.M. Ballantyne
bluenose
- US slang a puritanical or prudish person
- (often capital) informal a native or inhabitant of Nova Scotia
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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