E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Priest of the Blue-bag.
A barrister. A blue-bag is a cant name for a barrister. (See BARRISTER’S BAG.)
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“He [O’Flynn] had twice pleaded his own cause, without help of attorney, and showed himself as practised in every law quibble … as if he had been a regularly ordained priest of the blue bag.”—C. Kingsley: Alton Locke, chap. xx.
