bluetongue

See also: blue-tongue

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From blue +‎ tongue.

Noun

bluetongue (plural bluetongues)

  1. (uncountable) A disease of ruminants, caused by Bluetongue virus of the genus Orbivirus, carried by mosquitos, midges etc. [from 19th c.]
  2. (Australia) The blue-tongue lizard. [from 19th c.]
    • 2004, Nicholas Shakespeare, In Tasmania, Harvill Press, p. 191:
      “I don't worry about snakes, blue-tongues, spiders. All I worry about is the mutton-bird.”
  3. (Australia, New Zealand, colloquial) Someone seen as being as sleepy as a lizard; a lazy person. [from 20th c.]

Synonyms

Translations
This article is issued from Wiktionary. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.