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green about the gills

 - 2 dictionary results
green   (grēn)   
n.  
  1. The hue of that portion of the visible spectrum lying between yellow and blue, evoked in the human observer by radiant energy with wavelengths of approximately 490 to 570 nanometers; any of a group of colors that may vary in lightness and saturation and whose hue is that of the emerald or somewhat less yellow than that of growing grass; one of the additive or light primaries; one of the psychological primary hues.

  2. Something green in color.

  3. greens Green growth or foliage, especially:

    1. The branches and leaves of plants used for decoration.

    2. Leafy plants or plant parts eaten as vegetables.

    3. A grassy area located usually at the center of a city or town and set aside for common use; a common.

    4. Sports A putting green.

  4. A grassy lawn or plot, especially:

    1. A grassy area located usually at the center of a city or town and set aside for common use; a common.

    2. Sports A putting green.

  5. greens A green uniform: "a young . . . sergeant in dress greens" (Nelson DeMille).

  6. Slang Money.

  7. Green A supporter of a social and political movement that espouses global environmental protection, bioregionalism, social responsibility, and nonviolence.

adj.   green·er, green·est
  1. Of the color green.

  2. Abounding in or covered with green growth or foliage: the green woods.

  3. Made with green or leafy vegetables: a green salad.

  4. Characterized by mild or temperate weather: a green climate.

  5. Youthful; vigorous: at the green age of 18.

  6. Not mature or ripe; young: green tomatoes.

  7. Brand-new; fresh.

  8. Not yet fully processed, especially:

    1. Not aged: green wood.

    2. Not cured or tanned: green pelts.

    3. Lacking sophistication or worldly experience; naive.

    4. Easily duped or deceived; gullible.

    5. Beneficial to the environment: green recycling policies.

    6. Favoring or supporting environmentalism: green legislators who strengthened pollution controls.

  9. Lacking training or experience. See Synonyms at young.

    1. Lacking sophistication or worldly experience; naive.

    2. Easily duped or deceived; gullible.

    3. Beneficial to the environment: green recycling policies.

    4. Favoring or supporting environmentalism: green legislators who strengthened pollution controls.

  10. Having a sickly or unhealthy pallor indicative of nausea or jealousy, for example.

    1. Beneficial to the environment: green recycling policies.

    2. Favoring or supporting environmentalism: green legislators who strengthened pollution controls.

tr. & intr.v.   greened, green·ing, greens
To make or become green.

[Middle English grene, from Old English grēne; see ghrē- in Indo-European roots. N., sense 7 translation of German (die) Grünen, (the) Greens, from grün, green.]
green'ly adv., green'ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Idioms & Phrases

green about the gills

Also, green around the gills. Looking ill or nauseated, as in After that bumpy ride she looked quite green about the gills. The use of green to describe an ailing person's complexion dates from about 1300, and gills has referred to the flesh around human jaws and ears since the 1600s. Although in the 1800s white and yellow were paired with gills to suggest illness, the alliterative green has survived them.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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