Blood

(blŭd), n. [A. S. blōd, Goth. blōth, Icel. blōdh, Sw. & Dan. blod, D. bloed, O. H. Ger. pluot, M. H. Ger. bluot, N. H. Ger. blut. Cf. Lat. fluitare, for fluitare, to flow.]

1Sense 1. The fluid which circulates through the arteries and veins of the human body, and of other animals. This fluid is generally red; but in the molluscous and inferior animals it is white or colorless, tinged with blue; and such animals are called white-blooded. It is popularly regarded as the seat of life, and of characteristic qualities transmitted by descent.

2Sense 2. Hence, relation by natural descent from a common ancestor; kindred; consanguinity. “To share the blood of Saxon royalty.” W. Scott. “A friend of our own blood.” Waller.

3Sense 3. Descent; lineage; especially honorable birth; the highest royal lineage.

Give us a prince of blood, a son of Priam. Shak.

I am a gentleman of blood and breeding. Shak.

4Sense 4. The shedding of blood; the taking of life; murder; destruction.

So wills the fierce, avenging sprite, Till blood for blood atones. Hood.

5Sense 5. A blood-thirsty or murderous disposition. [R.]

He was a thing of blood, whose every motion Was timed with dying cries. Shak.

6Sense 6. Temper of mind; disposition; state of the passions.

Our bloods no more obey the heavens. Shak.

Strange, unusual blood, When man's worst sin is, he does too much good. Shak.

☞ Often, in this sense, accompanied with cold or warm, or other qualifying word. Thus, to commit an act in cold blood, is to do it deliberately, and without sudden passion. Warm blood denotes a temper inflamed or irritated. — To warm or heat the blood, to excite the passions. — Qualified by up, excited feeling or passion is signified; as, my blood was up.

But when the blast of war blows in our ears, Then imitate the actions of the tiger; Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood. Shak.

7Sense 7. A man of fire or spirit; a rake.

How giddily 'a turns about all the hot bloods between fourteen and five and thirty! Shak.

It was the morning costume of a dandy or blood of those days. Thackeray.

8Sense 8. The juice of any thing, especially if red. “The blood of grapes.” Gen. xlix. 11.

☞ Whole blood (Law), relationship through both father and mother; half blood, relationship through only one parent. In American Law, blood includes both half blood and whole blood. Bouvier. Peters.

(blôd), v. t. [imp. & p. p. BLOODED; p. pr. & vb. n. BLOODING.] 1. To let blood from; to bleed. 2. To stain with blood. Reach out their spears afar, And blood their points to prove their partnership in war. Dryden. 3. To inure to blood, as a hound. It was important that his troops should be blooded. Macaulay. 4. To heat the blood of; to exasperate. [Obs.] The auxiliary forces of the French and English were much blooded one against another. Bacon.

v. i. To be bled; to bleed. “Alack! let it blood.” Shak.