| 释义 |
lily-white
I. \ˈ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷| ̷ ̷\ adjective
Etymology: Middle English lilie-whit, from lilie lily + whit white
1. : white as a lily : pure white
2.
a. : designed to maintain a color line by excluding Negroes
< overruled the rank and file on the basis of the lily-white clause in the union ritual — John Beecher >
b. : characterized by or favoring the exclusion of Negroes especially from politics
< began to identify themselves with a lily-white movement which would expel Negroes from the organization — H.R.Penniman >
— opposed to black-and-tan
3. : lacking faults or imperfections : irreproachable, pure, innocent
< will show the jury he isn't as lily-white as he would have them believe — George Norris >
II. noun
: a member of a lily-white organization; especially : a member of a faction of the Republican party in the southern United States favoring the exclusion of Negroes from political life — opposed to black and tan |