Talk:blue

Need to separate n and adj translations

What is this? "Multilingual links - * Russian: blue colour колыбели (of cradle)" — Paul G 11:26, 1 Sep 2004 (UTC)

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blue

1. There are two senses of "blue" relating to the Democratic party:
   1. Of states or other political entities, tending to vote for the Democratic Party.
   2. Of or pertaining to the Democratic Party.

   The second sense is the one I don't get. Could someone produce some cites or some ideas where I might find a high proportion of qualifying quotes with just that sense?

2. There is also a long-winded derivation of the sense meaning "sad" that says that it comes from a nautical practice. I don't yet found a source for that. Anyone? DCDuring 22:03, 2 December 2007 (UTC)

According to Online Etymology Dictionary [1] blue has had the sense "low-spirited" since 1385, but it does not give any explanation. Hekaheka 23:19, 2 December 2007 (UTC)

If that proves out, then we may have explained why ships had blue flags when their captain died, instead of having to accept the nautical "etymology" of the "sad" sense. Thanks. DCDuring 23:48, 2 December 2007 (UTC)

about the blue flag - it did not mean a captains death from what I have found, Quote:

The "general order" issued by the Secretary of the Navy, and date of May 18,1858, says:

"it is hereby ordered that, in lieu of the broad pendant now worn by Flag Officers in command of squadrons, they shall wear a plain blue flag," &c., &c. There can be no doubt that it was originally intended that the "plain blue flag" should be worn at the mainmast-head, where the "broad pendant" was worn, as the insignia of the rank afloat in any of the navies of the world--the flag of an Admiral; thereby placing , and very properly, too, our Commanders of Squadrons upon a footing with those of other nations.

Source: The New York Times, Published March 13, 1860.--BigBadBen 21:05, 4 December 2007 (UTC)

For sense 1 of blue, I think it makes little sense to define blue as "bluish", while bluish is defined as "blue". How about:
Emitting or reflecting light primarily in the 440 - 490 nm range. Drhex 21:58, 7 February 2012 (UTC)

I think the word color and the image showing various shades of blue are sufficient to illustrate the concept. (Your idea is good as well, but a little too technical). Jamesjiao → ^{T ◊ C} 22:22, 7 February 2012 (UTC)

distance

the far distance (informal) 
he disappeared off into the blue
Microsoft® Encarta® 2009

--Backinstadiums (talk) 12:08, 20 February 2020 (UTC)

That sounds to me like grounds for adding into the blue, as per out of the blue, rather than a new definition for "blue". -Stelio (talk) 17:59, 20 February 2020 (UTC)