blue-water
UK[ˈbluːˌwɔːtə]US[ˈbluːˌwɔːtər]
adj
Relating to or operating in deep, open sea waters far from land.
adj
Relating to a navy that is capable of operating globally across the deep oceans.
Morpheme Breakdown
blue
water
blue
color
water
liquid
Etymology
The compound term 'blue-water' is a relatively modern nautical metaphor. It directly combines the common English words for a color and a liquid to create a vivid descriptor. The 'blue' refers to the characteristic deep azure hue of the open ocean, as opposed to the greener or browner shades of coastal ('green-water' or 'brown-water') areas. Thus, 'blue-water' logically evolved from a literal color description of the sea to a technical term denoting maritime operations or naval capability in the deep, international waters far from shore.
Analysis
Structure: blue (color) + water (liquid)
'blue' is from Old English 'blāw', of Germanic origin, describing a color. 'water' is from Old English 'wæter', of Proto-Germanic origin, meaning the clear liquid.
Examples
The country is developing a true blue-water navy with aircraft carriers and global reach.
His experience is in blue-water sailing, crossing oceans for months at a time.
The policy shift marked a move from coastal defense to blue-water ambitions.