blue John
English edit
Alternative forms edit
Etymology edit
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
- (obsolete, brewing) Afterwort, partially fermented wort. [17th–19th c.]
- A semiprecious mineral mined in Derbyshire, a form of fluorite with bands of a purple-blue or yellowish colour. [from 18th c.]
- (US regional) Skimmed milk. [from 19th c.]
- 1968, Charles Portis, True Grit:
- Lee went up front to his icebox and brought back a jar of milk. The cream had been skimmed from it. I said, “This tastes like blue-john to me.”