from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Bluestocking \Blue"stock`ing\, n.
1. A literary lady; a female pedant. [Colloq.]
[1913 Webster]
Note: As explained in Boswell's "Life of Dr. Johnson", this
term is derived from the name given to certain meetings
held by ladies, in Johnson's time, for conversation
with distinguished literary men. An eminent attendant
of these assemblies was a Mr. Stillingfleet, who always
wore blue stockings. He was so much distinguished for
his conversational powers that his absence at any time
was felt to be a great loss, so that the remark became
common, "We can do nothing without the blue stockings."
Hence these meetings were sportively called
bluestocking clubs, and the ladies who attended them,
bluestockings.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Zool.) The American avocet ({Recurvirostra Americana}).
[1913 Webster]