blood-red fancy

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Sense 1

Meaning · English

A red neckerchief worn at prizefights to show support for a contender.

Register: slang

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

Roll of snow, six snooze cases, three narps, and a blood-red fancy.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

a particular kind of handkerchief sometimes worn by pugilists and frequenters of prize fights.—See BILLY and COLOUR.

Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)

Where it’s used: Origin British & Irish English
Sources & notes

Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.

Common questions

What does “blood-red fancy” mean?

A red neckerchief worn at prizefights to show support for a contender.

Is “blood-red fancy” formal or informal?

blood-red fancy is generally slang.