bluenose

US: /ˈbluˌnoʊz/ ,(blo̅o̅′nōz′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

blue•nose /ˈbluˌnoʊz/   n. [countable]

1. a person who observes overly strict principles, esp. regarding pleasure;
   prude:
   The town bluenoses wouldn't talk to her.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

blue•nose  (blo̅o̅′nōz′), n. 

1. a puritanical person;
   prude.
2. Canada, British Terms (cap.) Also, Blue′ Nose′. an inhabitant of the Maritime Provinces, esp. of Nova Scotia.
3. British Terms, Naval Terms [Naut. Slang.]
   • a sailing vessel of Nova Scotia.
   • a seaman on such a vessel.

• 1780–85 (def. 2, 3); 1925–30, American. (def. 1); blue + nose; (def. 1) compare blue law, etc; (def. 2, 3) origin, originally a derisive name for a person residing in Nova Scotia before the Loyalists' arrival; allegedly so called from a variety of potato with a bluish tip, though there is no certain evidence for this or any of various other explanations of the name