Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Jaundice \Jaun"dice\ (?; 277), n. [OE. jaunis, F. jaunisse, fr.
   jaune yellow, orig. jalne, fr. L. galbinus yellowish, fr.
   galbus yellow.] (Med.)
   A morbid condition, characterized by yellowness of the eyes,
   skin, and urine, whiteness of the f[ae]ces, constipation,
   uneasiness in the region of the stomach, loss of appetite,
   and general languor and lassitude. It is caused usually by
   obstruction of the biliary passages and consequent damming
   up, in the liver, of the bile, which is then absorbed into
   the blood.

   {Blue jaundice}. See {Cyanopathy}.

Blue \Blue\, a. [Compar. {Bluer}; superl. {Bluest}.] [OE. bla,
   blo, blew, blue, Sw. bl?, D. blauw, OHG. bl?o, G. blau; but
   influenced in form by F. bleu, from OHG. bl[=a]o.]
   1. Having the color of the clear sky, or a hue resembling it,
      whether lighter or darker; as, the deep, blue sea; as blue
      as a sapphire; blue violets. ``The blue firmament.''
      --Milton.

   2. Pale, without redness or glare, -- said of a flame; hence,
      of the color of burning brimstone, betokening the presence
      of ghosts or devils; as, the candle burns blue; the air
      was blue with oaths.

   3. Low in spirits; melancholy; as, to feel blue.

   4. Suited to produce low spirits; gloomy in prospect; as,
      thongs looked blue. [Colloq.]

   5. Severe or over strict in morals; gloom; as, blue and sour
      religionists; suiting one who is over strict in morals;
      inculcating an impracticable, severe, or gloomy mortality;
      as, blue laws.

   6. Literary; -- applied to women; -- an abbreviation of
      bluestocking. [Colloq.]

            The ladies were very blue and well informed.
                                                  --Thackeray.

   {Blue asbestus}. See {Crocidolite}.

   {Blue black}, of, or having, a very dark blue color, almost
      black.

   {Blue blood}. See under {Blood}.

   {Blue buck} (Zo["o]l.), a small South African antelope
      ({Cephalophus pygm[ae]us}); also applied to a larger
      species ({[AE]goceras leucoph[ae]u}s); the blaubok.

   {Blue cod} (Zo["o]l.), the buffalo cod.

   {Blue crab} (Zo["o]l.), the common edible crab of the
      Atlantic coast of the United States ({Callinectes
      hastatus}).

   {Blue curls} (Bot.), a common plant ({Trichostema
      dichotomum}), resembling pennyroyal, and hence called also
      {bastard pennyroyal}.

   {Blue devils}, apparitions supposed to be seen by persons
      suffering with {delirium tremens}; hence, very low
      spirits. ``Can Gumbo shut the hall door upon blue devils,
      or lay them all in a red sea of claret?'' --Thackeray.

   {Blue gage}. See under {Gage}, a plum.

   {Blue gum}, an Australian myrtaceous tree ({Eucalyptus
      globulus}), of the loftiest proportions, now cultivated in
      tropical and warm temperate regions for its timber, and as
      a protection against malaria. The essential oil is
      beginning to be used in medicine. The timber is very
      useful. See {Eucalyptus}.

   {Blue jack}, {Blue stone}, blue vitriol; sulphate of copper.
      

   {Blue jacket}, a man-of war's man; a sailor wearing a naval
      uniform.

   {Blue jaundice}. See under {Jaundice}.

   {Blue laws}, a name first used in the eighteenth century to
      describe certain supposititious laws of extreme rigor
      reported to have been enacted in New Haven; hence, any
      puritanical laws. [U. S.]

   {Blue light}, a composition which burns with a brilliant blue
      flame; -- used in pyrotechnics and as a night signal at
      sea, and in military operations.

   {Blue mantle} (Her.), one of the four pursuivants of the
      English college of arms; -- so called from the color of
      his official robes.

   {Blue mass}, a preparation of mercury from which is formed
      the blue pill. --McElrath.

   {Blue mold}, or mould, the blue fungus ({Aspergillus
      glaucus}) which grows on cheese. --Brande & C.

   {Blue Monday}, a Monday following a Sunday of dissipation, or
      itself given to dissipation (as the Monday before Lent).
      

   {Blue ointment} (Med.), mercurial ointment.

   {Blue Peter} (British Marine), a blue flag with a white
      square in the center, used as a signal for sailing, to
      recall boats, etc. It is a corruption of blue repeater,
      one of the British signal flags.

   {Blue pill}. (Med.)
      (a) A pill of prepared mercury, used as an aperient, etc.
      (b) Blue mass.

   {Blue ribbon}.
      (a) The ribbon worn by members of the order of the Garter;
          -- hence, a member of that order.
      (b) Anything the attainment of which is an object of great
          ambition; a distinction; a prize. ``These
          [scholarships] were the --blue ribbon of the
          college.'' --Farrar.
      (c) The distinctive badge of certain temperance or total
          abstinence organizations, as of the --Blue ribbon
          Army.

   {Blue ruin}, utter ruin; also, gin. [Eng. Slang] --Carlyle.

   {Blue spar} (Min.), azure spar; lazulite. See {Lazulite}.

   {Blue thrush} (Zo["o]l.), a European and Asiatic thrush
      ({Petrocossyphus cyaneas}).

   {Blue verditer}. See {Verditer}.

   {Blue vitriol} (Chem.), sulphate of copper, a violet blue
      crystallized salt, used in electric batteries, calico
      printing, etc.

   {Blue water}, the open ocean.

   {To look blue}, to look disheartened or dejected.

   {True blue}, genuine and thorough; not modified, nor mixed;
      not spurious; specifically, of uncompromising
      Presbyterianism, blue being the color adopted by the
      Covenanters.