bluestocking
pronunciation
How to pronounce bluestocking in British English:
UK [ˈblu:stɒkɪŋ]
How to pronounce bluestocking in American English:
US [ˈblustɑkɪŋ]
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- Noun:
- a woman having literary or intellectual interests
Word Origin
- bluestocking
- bluestocking: [18] The term bluestocking ‘female intellectual’ derives from the gatherings held at the houses of fashionable mid-18th- century hostesses to discuss literary and related topics. It became the custom at these not to put on full formal dress, which for gentlemen included black silk stockings. One habitué in particular, Mr Benjamin Stillingfleet, used to wear greyish worsted stockings, conventionally called ‘blue’.This lack of decorum was looked on with scorn in some quarters, and Admiral Boscawan dubbed the participants the ‘Blue Stocking Society’. Women who attended their highbrow meetings thus became known as ‘Blue Stocking Ladies’ (even though it was a man who had worn the stockings), and towards the end of the century this was abbreviated to simply bluestockings.
- bluestocking (n.)
- also blue-stocking, 1790, derisive word for a woman considered too learned, traces to a London literary salon founded c. 1750 by Elizabeth Montagu on the Parisian model, featuring intellectual discussion instead of card games, and in place of ostentatious evening attire, simple dress, including Benjamin Stillingfleet's blue-gray tradesman's hose which he wore in place of gentleman's black silk, hence the term, first applied in derision to the whole set by Admiral Boscawen. None of the ladies wore blue stockings. Borrowed by the neighbors in loan-translations, such as French bas-bleu, Dutch blauwkous, German Blaustrumpf.
Example
- 1. She is what you call a " bluestocking "
- 2. She 's no more than a bluestocking .
- 3. Bluestocking awoman who is regarded as having superior literary tastes and intellectual interests who spends most of her time studying and is therefore not approved of by some men .
- 4. She is no loner what we used to call " bluestocking " ten years ago .
- 5. She is such a bluestocking that many men dare not to get close to her because they think she must be a little nerdy .