subs. (common).—1. A louse. Also SCOTS GREYS. Fr., un grenadier. For synonyms, see CHATES.
2. (American).—A Confederate soldier. [Partly from the colour of his uniform, and partly because of its inhabitants. Cf., sense 1.] See BLUE-BELLIES.
1883. Daily Telegraph, 9 Feb., p. 5, c. 4. The Confederate armies, during the great Civil War in America … were known … as GREYBACKS, whereas their Federal opponents, from the light-azure gaberdines which they wore, were dubbed ‘blue-bellies.’
1890. Scribner’s Magazine, March, p. 283. Mrs. Rutherford stood in such abject fear of the GRAYBACKS that she regarded the possession of so large a sum as simply inviting destruction.
