adj. and subs. (old colloquial).—1.  Unmistakable, honest, staunch, dependable: as subs., a thoroughly reliable, good fellow, a stalwart: also BLUE (q.v.). [Blue is regarded as the colour or emblem of constancy, but whether in reference to the blue of sky or sea (both proverbially deceitful) or the fastness of some dye (e.g., Coventry blue) is unknown.] Hence spec. (2) in 17th century = the Scotch Presbyterians or Whigs: the Covenanters had adopted BLUE as against the Royal red; in later times staunchly Liberal or Tory, according to the choice made of blue as a party-colour by either, but mostly Conservative.

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  [c. 1500.  A Balade against Women Unconstant [STOW, Chaucer (1561), 340].

        To newe thinges your lust is euer kene,
In stede of BLEW, thus may ye were al grene.]

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  1638.  RANDOLPH, Hey for Honesty, ii. 3. Be merry, TRUE-BLUE, be merry; thou art one of my friends too.

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  1663.  BUTLER, Hudibras, I. i. 191.

          For his religion it was fit
To match his learning and his wit:
’Twas Presbyterian TRUE BLUE.

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  1674.  N. FAIRFAX, A Treatise of the Bulk and Selvedge of the World, 171. It being TRUE BLEW Gotham or Hobbes ingrain’d, one of the two.

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  1705.  HICKERINGILL, Priest-Craft, Its Character and Consequences, II. viii. 86. The Old Beau is TRUE-BLEW … the Highflown Principles.

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  1762.  Gentleman’s Magazine, 442. Honest, TRUE BLUES, a staunch, firm, chosen band.

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  1785.  BURNS, The Author’s Earnest Cry and Prayer, xiii. Dempster, a TRUE BLUE Scot, I’se warrant.

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  1818.  SCOTT, The Heart of Mid-lothian (1873), 75. A tough TRUE-BLUE Presbyterian called Deans.

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  1860.  A. TROLLOPE, Framley Parsonage, i. 10. There was no part of the country more decidedly TRUE BLUE.

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  1866.  G. ELIOT, Felix Holt, xvii. This gentleman … is one of ourselves: he is a TRUE BLUE.

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