blue pigeon

English

Noun

blue pigeon (plural blue pigeons)

  1. Any member of the genus Alectroenas of the pigeon family.
  2. (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
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