blue button — English Dictionary

Noun

1. A colony of hydrozoan polyps of the species Porpita porpita

2. An unauthorized clerk in the stock exchange.

   Usage

   • UK usage
   • Historical

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   Unauthorized clerks or Blue Buttons can make enquiries in the House and ask for prices but may not enter into any contract, while Red Buttons are clerks entitled to work in the Settling or checking Room.

   Then a blue button dashed to the box to pick up the call.

   More examples (1)

   When the market closed at 3.30 pm, the entire jobbing community exited the Stock Exchange, walking in procession back to their offices, followed by a file of blue buttons struggling to carry cumbersome dealing books.