[blues] n pl but sing or pl in constr [blue devils] (1741) 1: low spirits: melancholy
2: a song often of lamentation characterized by usu. 12-bar phrases, 3-line stanzas in which the words of the second line usu. repeat those of the first, and continual occurrence of blue notes in melody and harmony
3: jazz or popular music using harmonic and phrase structures of blues