blue pigeon
From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Noun
blue pigeon (plural blue pigeons)
- Any member of the genus Alectroenas of the pigeon family.
- (nautical, slang) The lead used for sounding.
- 1897, Rudyard Kipling, Captains Courageous:
- "Now I'll learn you something Long Jack can't," shouted Tom Platt, as from a locker by the stern he produced a battered deep-sea lead hollowed at one end, smeared the hollow from a saucer full of mutton tallow, and went forward. "I'll learn you how to fly the Blue Pigeon. Shooo!"
[…] The lead sung a deep droning song as Tom Platt whirled it round and round.
Derived terms
- Comoros blue pigeon
- Madagascar blue pigeon
- Mauritius blue pigeon
- Réunion blue pigeon
- Rodrigues blue pigeon
- Seychelles blue pigeon
Related terms
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