subs. pl. (American: obsolete).—1. The paper money of the Confederate States: cf. GREENBACKS = the United States paper currency: the colour of the printing on the reverse is blue and green respectively.
1871. DE VERE, Americanisms, 291. The Confederate notes bore, for the same reason, the name of BLUEBACKS, which was, however, soon exchanged for the slang term of ‘shucks.’
1890. Family Herald, 8 Feb. 227. If you obey me you shall have a BLUEBACK.
2. (South African: obsolete).—The late Orange Free State paper money.
1878. A. TROLLOPE, South Africa, II., 206. BLUEBACKS, as they were called, were printed. Ibid., p. 222. The BLUEBACKS as the Orange Free State banknotes were called.
