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

Related terms

• blue pigeon flyer
• fly the blue pigeon