| 单词 | to fly the blue pigeon |
| 释义 | > as lemmasto fly the blue pigeon to fly the blue pigeon: (a) cant to steal lead (now historical); (b) Nautical slang to cast the sounding lead. ΘΚΠ the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > steal [verb (intransitive)] > steal lead to fly the blue pigeon1781 society > travel > travel by water > other nautical operations > [verb (intransitive)] > sound depth soundc1485 to fly the blue pigeon1781 lead1858 1781 G. Parker View Society & Manners II. i. 63 To fly the Blue Pigeon is cutting off lead from what they call a Prayer Book up to a Bible. 1787 Proc. Old Bailey 21 Feb. 428/2 We came up..opposite the place where the lead was stolen... One of the [others]..said, you have been flying the blue pigeon finely. 1825 Universal Songster I. 39/2 Ulloa, my covey, you seem to be out on the morning sneak there... Your are not going to fly the blue pigeon, are you? 1897 R. Kipling Captains Courageous 77 ‘I'll learn you how to fly the Blue Pigeon. Shooo!’.. The lead sang a deep droning song as Tom Platt whirled it round and round. 1905 Strand Mag. Mar. 184/1 They had verified their position by flying the ‘blue pigeon’, as seamen call the deep-sea lead. 1998 G. K. Saunders Maggie Jackson's Kid ii. 6 It was flying the blue pigeon as was my downfall, sir... Seven coppers I got for it and seven years in Botany Bay. < as lemmas |
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