blue-collar
UK[ˌbluː ˈkɒlə]US[ˌbluː ˈkɑːlər]
adj
relating to manual work or workers, particularly in industry, who typically wear durable clothing such as blue shirts or overalls.
Morpheme Breakdown
blue
collar
blue
color
collar
part of clothing
Etymology
the term "blue-collar" is a 20th-century americanism that arose from the sartorial practices of industrial and manual laborers. these workers often wore durable, dark-colored clothing, such as blue denim shirts or overalls, to conceal dirt and grime from their work environments. the "collar" metonymically represents the worker, a usage extending from the earlier "white-collar" for office workers. thus, the compound literally describes the characteristic attire, evolving into a standard socioeconomic classification for manual labor.
Analysis
Structure: blue (color) + collar (part of clothing)
"blue" originates from old english 'blāw', of germanic origin, referring to the color. "collar" originates from latin 'collare' (neckband, from 'collum' meaning neck), via old french 'coler', referring to the part of a garment that fits around the neck.
Examples
he comes from a traditional blue-collar family where everyone worked in the factories.
the plant employs thousands of blue-collar workers in manufacturing roles.
the region's economy has shifted from blue-collar industries to more service-based jobs.