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English
Etymology
From blue John
Pronunciation
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Noun
blue John uncountable
( 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.”
