Blăst1, n.
n. [A-S. blæst, a puff of wind, a blowing, burning, from blæsan, to blow, flare; O. H. Ger. bläst, a blowing, from blásan, to blow, Goth. blesan, Icel. blastr, Dan. blæst, Sw. blåst.] 1. Literally, a blowing; a violent movement of the air, a destructive or pernicious wind. “The eagle rode the rising blast.” Byron. And see where surly Winter passes off, Far to the north, and calls his ruffian blasts; His blasts obey, and quit the howling hill. Thomson. 2. A forcible stream of air from an orifice, as of bellows, the mouth, &c.; and hence, the blowing necessary to melt the supply of ore in a furnace; as, to melt so many tons of iron at a blast. Ere long enforced to breathe his utmost blast. Spencer. The terms hot-blast and cold-blast are employed to designate whether the current is heated or not heated, before entering the furnace.
- The exhaust steam from an engine, driving a column of air out of a boiler chimney, and creating a partial vacuum in the smoke-box, toward which the external air is forced by its own weight, thus creating an intense draught through the fire; also, any draught produced by the blast. [See Illust. of Boiler.]
- The sound made by blowing a wind instrument; strictly, the sound produced at one breath. “One blast upon his bugle-horn Were worth a thousand men.” W. Scott. “The blast of triumph o’er thy grave.” Bryant.
- The rending of bodies, as rocks, &c., by the explosion of gunpowder, or the charge used for this purpose. “Large blasts are often used.” Tomlinson.
- A sudden, pernicious effect, as if by a noxious wind, especially on animals and plants; a blight. “By the blast of God they perish.” Job iv. 9. “Destruction’s blast.” Shak.
- A flatulent disease of sheep.