Etymology

blue John

Today it means: Afterwort, partially fermented wort. Full definition →

First used 17th–19th c.
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The story

From blue + John.

First known use, by meaning

  • 17th–19th c. Afterwort, partially fermented wort.
  • from 18th c. A semiprecious mineral mined in Derbyshire, a form of fluorite with bands of a purple-blue or yellowish colour.
  • from 19th c. Skimmed milk.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.