blast English · revision 5982

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 725}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /blɑːst/, US /blæst/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English blast, [[inh|ang|blǣst|t=a blowing, a strong gust of wind]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from [[gem-pro|*blēstaz]],^(Hoad 1986)^(Etymonline) which also gave Old High German blāst and Old Norse blástr (perhaps the immediate source in Middle English);^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) it is related to Old High German blāsan and German blasen “to blow”,^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from the PIE root [[ine-pro|*bʰleh₁-|alt=*bhle-|t=to blow]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) the root of [[blow]].^(Barnhart 1988) The verb is Old English blǣstan “to blow, belch forth”.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A strong gust of wind: about 725 in Barnhart, before 1000 in the OED.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) The call of a trumpet is probably from before 1200, in Layamon.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The verb, to blow, is from before 1300.^(Barnhart 1988) From the 16th to the 19th century it often meant to breathe on balefully, to blight or wither;^(Etymonline) ''blasted'' as a curse grows from this.^(SOED 2002)^(AHD) An explosion is from the 1630s,^(Etymonline) and to blow up with explosives from 1758.^(Etymonline) The current of air forced into an iron-smelting furnace is from the 1690s, 1697 in the OED, which led to the blast furnace (1706) and ''in full blast'', at full operation, from 1780.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) About 1600 a blast was the usual word for a smoke of tobacco.^(Etymonline) A noisy party or a good time is American slang by 1953.^(Etymonline) ''Blast off'' is from 1951.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 725 – a gust of wind.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * before 1200 – the call of a trumpet.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * before 1300 – to blow.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1630s – an explosion.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1697 – air forced into a furnace.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1758 – to blow up.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1951 – blast off.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1953 – a good time.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An [[explosion]], or the rush of air from one.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A strong, sudden gust of wind or air.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A loud sound, as of a trumpet or horn.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(informal)'' A very enjoyable time.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To blow up or break apart with explosives.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To make a loud noise, as music from a [[loudspeaker]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To criticize fiercely.^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(blast off)'' Of a rocket, to take off.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ===Interjection===

+ # ''(British informal)'' An exclamation of annoyance.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[blaster]]

+ * [[blasty]]

+ * [[blastment]]

+ * [[blastoff]]

+ * [[counterblast]]

+ * [[windblast]]

+ * [[sandblast]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[blow]]

+ * [[bladder]]

+ * [[blaze]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Blast in biology, an immature cell, as in blast cell, is a different word, from Greek blastos “sprout, germ”.^(SOED 2002)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}