blue John

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English

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English Wikipedia has an article on:
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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From blue + John.

Pronunciation

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Noun

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blue John (uncountable)

  1. (obsolete, brewing) Afterwort, partially fermented wort. [17th–19th c.]
  2. A semiprecious mineral mined in Derbyshire, a form of fluorite with bands of a purple-blue or yellowish colour. [from 18th c.]
  3. (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.”
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