| 释义 |
blue gown, ˈblue-gown
[cf. blue-coat.]
†1. A blue gown was:
a. ‘The dress of ignominy for a harlot in the house of correction’ (Nares);
b. The dress of an almoner, in Scotland of a king's bedesman or licensed beggar. Obs.
1604Dekker Honest Wh. Wks. 1873 II. 165 Your Puritanicall Honest Whore sits in a blue gowne. 1787Burns Ep. J. Rankine iv, It's just the blue-gown badge an' claithing O' saunts.
2. One who wears this dress: in Scotland, a king's bedesman or licensed beggar, who wore the dress as a badge. Also attrib.
1816Scott Antiq. xxiv, ‘Edie Ochiltree, nae maister—your puir bedesman and the king's’, answered the Blue-Gown. Ibid. xxxvii, Here has been an old Blue-Gown committing robbery! |