subs. (common).—A tradesman.
1721. AMHURST, Terræ-filius, xliii., 230. For if any saucy BLUE APRON dares to affront any venerable person … all scholars are immediately forbid to have any dealings or commerce with him.
1868. BREWER, Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, 98. A BLUE-APRON statesman, a lay politician, a tradesman who interferes with the affairs of the nation. The reference is to the BLUE APRON once worn by nearly all tradesmen, but now restricted to butchers, poulterers, fishmongers, and so on.
