bluebottle

[ bloo-bot-l ]

/ ˈbluˌbɒt l /

a composite plant, Centaurea cyanus, having narrow leaves and blue flower heads.

Australian. Portuguese man-of-war.

Origin of bluebottle

First recorded in 1545–55; blue + bottle¹

I put the bluebottle's eggs to hatch on a piece of meat and leave the worms to do their work as they please.

The Life of the Fly |J. Henri Fabre
Irish Manservant (who has been requested by a guest to procure him a bluebottle for fishing purposes—returning from his quest).

Mr. Punch's Irish Humour |Charles Keene, Various
The office was very still, except for two bluebottle flies butting against the ceiling and buzzing up and down the window-panes.

Life at High Tide |Various
I next place in the cage a bluebottle, one only, to avoid confusion.

The Life of the Fly |J. Henri Fabre

Now the driver of the Van Wyk vehicle is about as unlike Swartboy as a bear to a bluebottle.

The Young Yagers |Mayne Reid

bluebottle

/ (ˈbluːˌbɒtəl) /

another name for the blowfly

any of various blue-flowered plants, esp the cornflower

British an informal word for a policeman

Australian and NZ an informal name for Portuguese man-of-war