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Definitions

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

  1. Low spirits; depression of mind.
  2. [With allusion to the apparitions of such delirium.] Delirium tremens.

Wiktionary

  1. n. low spirits; depression

GNU Webster's 1913

  1. adj. apparitions supposed to be seen by persons suffering with delirium tremens; hence, very low spirits.
  2. n. See under Blue.

WordNet 3.0

  1. n. a state of depression

Examples

  • “That was welcome, I can tell you: the thirty-mile ride from Ferozepore, skirting south in case of gorracharra scouts, and with only six N.C. sowars for escort, had given me the blue devils and done my game ankle no good at all, and on reaching Moodkee I'd had a most horrid shock.”

    Flashman and the Mountain of Light

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Lists

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  • yarb A fortnight was pretty well without seeing a soul but my keeper, who had orders that I should want for nothing in the bread and water way! Whenever he made his appearance I was inclined to be sociable, and to parley a little to get rid of the blue devils; but this majestic minister was above reply, he was mum!

    - Lesage, The Adventures of Gil Blas of Santillane, tr. Smollett, bk 1 ch. 12 Sep 11, 2008

  • yarb Citation on atrabilarious. Sep 2, 2008

‘blue devils’ has been looked up 685 times, added to 8 lists, commented on 2 times, and is not a valid Scrabble word.