blue peter


noun Nautical.

a blue flag with a white square in the center, designating the letter P in the International Code of Signals, flown by a vessel in port to indicate its imminent departure.

Nearby words

  1. blue nevus,
  2. blue nile,
  3. blue norther,
  4. blue note,
  5. blue pencil,
  6. blue phlox,
  7. blue pike,
  8. blue pill,
  9. blue plate,
  10. blue point

Origin of blue peter

First recorded in 1815–25 Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for blue peter

  • In some places it is known as a crow duck, but the proper local name here is "blue-peter."

  • The blue-peter was flying at the mast-head, and people hurrying away to say 'good-bye' for the last time.

    Tales Of The Trains|Charles James Lever
  • They observe the “Blue-Peter,” but without knowing aught of its significance.

British Dictionary definitions for blue peter

blue peter


a signal flag of blue with a white square at the centre, displayed by a vessel about to leave port

Word Origin for blue peter

C19: from the name Peter
