— bluestockingism , n.
/blooh"stok'ing/ , n.
1. a woman with considerable scholarly, literary, or intellectual ability or interest.
2. a member of a mid-18th-century London literary circle: Lady Montagu was a celebrated bluestocking.
[ 1675-85; so called from the informal attire, esp. blue woolen instead of black silk stockings, worn by some women of the group (def. 2) ]