- blue law
- nouna statute regulating work on Sundays• Topics: ↑law, ↑jurisprudence• Hypernyms: ↑law
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nounEtymology: blue (I) (puritanical)1. : one of numerous extremely rigorous laws designed to regulate morals and conduct in colonial New England* * *
any puritanical law that forbids certain practices, esp. drinking or working on Sunday, dancing, etc. Cf. sumptuary law.[1775-85, Amer.]* * *
blue law,any very strict law regulating personal conduct. Laws prohibiting dancing or going to the theater on Sunday are blue laws.* * *
n. a law prohibiting certain activities, such as shopping, on a Sunday■ (in colonial New England) a strict religious law, particularly one preventing entertainment or leisure activities on a Sunday* * *
noun, pl ⋯ laws [count]US : an old law that forbids people from doing certain things (such as working or selling alcohol) on Sundays* * *
(in the US) a law that bans business and certain other activities, such as sports, on SundaysCulture:Blue laws were first introduced in colonial ↑New England and were originally printed on blue paper. Now they vary widely in different parts of the US. Although many shops open on Sundays, they often do not sell alcohol on that day because of a blue law.
Useful english dictionary. 2012.