[app. a modern onomatopœia, expressive of a discharge of breath or fluid from the mouth after an effort to retain it; with the bl- element, cf. blow, blast, blash, etc.; with the rest cf. spurt, spirt, squirt, etc.: see also BLIRT.]
1. intr. To emit the breath eruptively from the mouth; to snort in sleep. Also trans. with out. Now dial.
1611. Cotgr., Souffler les choux en dormant, to puffe, or blurt out puffes, in sleeping.
a. 1825. MS. Poem (Jam.). He blortit an’ startit.
† 2. To make a contemptuous puffing gesture with the lips, to puff in scorn, to ‘pooh.’ Obs.
a. intr. Also with indirect pass. to be blurted at.
1596. Edw. III., IV. vi. (N.). All the world wilt blurt and scorne at vs.
1601. Shaks., Per., IV. iii. 34. None would look on her But cast their gazes on Marinas face; Whilst ours was blurted at.
1611. Florio, Boccheggiare … to make mouths or blurt with ones lips.
1654. Gayton, Festiv. Notes, IV. xvii. 259. The other part … sneeze and blurt … make mouths, and flowt in Spanish postures.
b. trans. To treat contemptuously.
1621. Fletcher, Wild-G. Chase, II. ii. I never was so blurted, Nor ever so abused.
a. 1663. Sanderson, Serm. (1681), 92. Baffled and Blurted by every lewd companion.
3. trans. (commonly with out): To utter abruptly, and as if by a sudden impulse; to ejaculate impulsively; to burst out with.
1573. G. Harvey, Letter-bk. (1884), 9. Blurting out sutch iests as he had gottin togither for the nons.
1656. H. More, Enthus. Tri. (1712), 35. Blurting out any garish foolery that comes into their mind.
1768. Tucker, Lt. Nat., II. 566. Sometimes people will blurt out things inadvertently, which if judgment had been awake it would have suppressed.
1772. Goldsm., Stoops to Conq., II. i. To blurt out the broad staring question of, Madam will you marry me.
1848. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., II. 180. They are fortunate if they possess an indiscreet friend who blurts out the whole truth.
1854. Mrs. Gaskell, North & S., v. ‘Papa is going to leave Helstone!’ she blurted forth.
1876. Blackie, Songs Relig. & Life, 147. To blurt a dash of broad-cast Scottish truth, Athwart his lisping lips.
fig. 1611. Tourneur, Ath. Trag., IV. iv. 124. I should ha’ done’t slily without discouery, and now I am blurted upon ’em before I was aware.
b. absol.
1641. Milton, Animadv., Wks. (1851), 189. To blurt upon the eares of a judicious Parliament with such a … Proem.
4. transf. To thrust out abruptly.
1818. Religio Clerici, 52. Fled is the genuine Muse, and in her place A brisk pretender blurts her shameless face.
5. To burst out into weeping. (Cf. BLIRT.)
1843. W. Carleton, Traits, I. 139–40. Not a few able-bodied spalpeens blurting, like overgrown children, on seeing their own blood.
