blue law
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: 4.96 in modern English
12
Scrabble Score
7
Letters
1
Syllables
6
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A restrictive religious-based law in colonial New England, especially preventing leisure activities on a Sunday.
Canadian usage; American usage
noun
Any puritanical or restrictive law, especially one that prohibits or restricts commercial activity on a Sunday.
Canadian usage; American usage
Example Sentences
- "Years ago, because of the Blue Laws, we couldn't serve drinks on Sunday over the bar, so we set up tables in the aisles. And we'd have different acts on a stage up front."
- "[I]t's actually a way around the Swiss blue laws demanding that shops close from Saturday afternoon until Monday morning. The laws apply everywhere but the airport, so they built a massive supermarket in the Swiss Air terminal."