The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Blast \Blast\ (bl[.a]st), n. [AS. bl[=ae]st a puff of wind, a
blowing; akin to Icel. bl[=a]str, OHG. bl[=a]st, and fr. a
verb akin to Icel. bl[=a]sa to blow, OHG. bl[^a]san, Goth.
bl[=e]san (in comp.); all prob. from the same root as E.
blow. See Blow to eject air.]
1. A violent gust of wind.
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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.
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2. A forcible stream of air from an orifice, as from a
bellows, the mouth, etc. Hence: The continuous blowing to
which one charge of ore or metal is subjected in a
furnace; as, to melt so many tons of iron at a blast.
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Note: The terms hot blast and cold blast are employed to
designate whether the current is heated or not heated
before entering the furnace. A blast furnace is said to
be in blast while it is in operation, and out of blast
when not in use.
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3. The exhaust steam from and engine, driving a column of air
out of a boiler chimney, and thus creating an intense
draught through the fire; also, any draught produced by
the blast.
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4. The sound made by blowing a wind instrument; strictly, the
sound produces at one breath.
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One blast upon his bugle horn
Were worth a thousand men. --Sir W.
Scott.
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The blast of triumph o'er thy grave. --Bryant.
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5. A sudden, pernicious effect, as if by a noxious wind,
especially on animals and plants; a blight.
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By the blast of God they perish. --Job iv. 9.
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Virtue preserved from fell destruction's blast.
--Shak.
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6. The act of rending, or attempting to rend, heavy masses of
rock, earth, etc., by the explosion of gunpowder,
dynamite, etc.; also, the charge used for this purpose.
"Large blasts are often used." --Tomlinson.
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7. A flatulent disease of sheep.
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Blast furnace, a furnace, usually a shaft furnace for
smelting ores, into which air is forced by pressure.
Blast hole, a hole in the bottom of a pump stock through
which water enters.
Blast nozzle, a fixed or variable orifice in the delivery
end of a blast pipe; -- called also blast orifice.
In full blast, in complete operation; in a state of great
activity. See Blast, n., 2. [Colloq.]
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