Definitions for: Bluestocking

[n] a woman having literary or intellectual interests

Webster (1913) Definition: Blue"stock`ing, n.
1. A literary lady; a female pedant. [Colloq.]

Note: As explained in Boswell's ``Life of Dr. Johnson'', this
term is derived from the name given to certain meetings
held by ladies, in Johnson's time, for conversation
with distinguished literary men. An eminent attendant
of these assemblies was a Mr. Stillingfleet, who always
wore blue stockings. He was so much distinguished for
his conversational powers that his absence at any time
was felt to be a great loss, so that the remark became
common, ``We can do nothing without the blue
stockings.'' Hence these meetings were sportively
called bluestocking clubs, and the ladies who attended
them, bluestockings.

2. (Zo["o]l.) The American avocet ({Recurvirostra
Americana}).

Synonyms: bas bleu

See Also: adult female, woman

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