A BLUE-STOCKING
We often hear the expression, "Oh, she's a blue-stocking/ used in reference to a woman who is unusually learned; but probably few people know what it really means. The blue-stock-ing movement was started by a number of women, chief amongst whom" were Mrs. Montagu ana Mrs. Trimmer, who prided themselves' upon being unconventional. In their day no man could enter a drawing-room wearing anything but ceremonial clothes and black silk stockings. Priding themselves upon their broad views, they received all kinds of persons—Mrs. Montagu gave a breakfast every year to chimneysweeps—and in order that none of their male guests should feel awkward or badly dressed, the rule was that all should come in rpugh clothes and wearing coarse stockings of blue wool that were worn at that time by workmen. The blue-stockings, then, were originally the guests of learned women. Later the name was applied to the women themselves.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19340120.2.28.5
Bibliographic details
Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 17, 20 January 1934, Page 8
Word Count
151A BLUE-STOCKING Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 17, 20 January 1934, Page 8
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