When did the colour blue first come to be used as an adjective meaning miserable, and why?

markswood

There are some slightly different schools of thought regarding the origin of blue and the blues. One source notes that blue `low-spirited, depressed' was in use by 1385, and that the phrase to look blue arose in the early 17th century, with the original meaning of `to look livid or leaden-colored from anxiety, depression, etc.' Blues `low spirits' was being used by 1741. The term was adopted by American jazz circles by 1895. This history of the word would make it English (England) in origin. Another source traces blues back to the term blue devils, which were hallucinations believed to accompany delirium tremens (d.t.'s). The connection betwen d.t.'s and depression is fairly obvious. However, this same source also notes that blue `melancholy' has been a black slang term for `melancholy, depressed' since 1870, which it was used to denote work songs. This may point to an American origin. Ref: http://www.takeourword.com/arc_logi.html Mar 26 08, 9:40 AM