Also 4–5 blostre, 4–6 blustre, 6 blaster. [It is very doubtful whether the obsolete ME. sense 1 has any connection with the later word in the other senses. With the former Mätzner compares the LG. blustern, blistern ‘to flutter or flap the wings in alarm like a frightened dove, etc.,’ which perhaps may be a parallel onomatopœia. The 16th-c. word has evident relations both in form and sense with the verbs BLOW, BLAZE v.2, and BLAST: cf. especially ON. blástr sb. ‘blast, breath, blowing, hissing’ with the form blasterand in G. Douglas (= BLUSTERING ppl. a.). Prof. Skeat also compares an East Frisian blüstern to bluster, from blüssen to blow, akin to blasen; and it is worthy of note that the Sc. pronunciation is (blüster). But evidence is wanting as to the actual introduction of the word about 1500.]
I. The ME. verb.
† 1. intr. To wander or stray (or ? to rush) blindly or aimlessly. Obs. Cf. BLUNDER v. 3.
c. 1325. E. E. Allit. P., B. 886. Þay blustered as blynde as bayard watz euer.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. V. 521. Ac þere was wyȝte non so wys þe wey þider couthe, But blustreden [1393 blostrede] forth as bestes ouer bankes and hilles.
II. The modern verb.
2. intr. Of the wind: To blow boisterously or with stormy violence. Also said of water agitated by wind or flood.
1530. Palsgr., 459/1. This wynde blustereth a pace.
1579. Gosson, Apol. Sch. Abuse (Arb.), 65. The wynde blustereth about the hilles yet can not remove them from their place.
1621–31. Laud, Serm. (1847), 207. If God provide not a fence for this light of justice against the winds of temptation that bluster about it.
1725. Pope, Odyss., XII. 342. Loud winds arise, Lash the wild surge, and bluster in the skies.
1842. Tennyson, Dream Fair Wom., 38. When to land Bluster the winds and tides the self-same way.
1863. Baring-Gould, Iceland, 118. The winter storms began to bluster up the glen.
b. fig. of the storm or tempest of the passions.
1549. Coverdale, Erasm. Par. James 25. Whan the storme of sorowes cometh blustreing in.
1645. Bp. Hall, Content., 109. The … passions which daily bluster within us.
c. trans. To blow about, disarray, dishevel. rare. † To bluster down: to blow down with violence (obs.).
1624. Bp. Hall, Wks. (1837), V. 205 (T.). Doth the Devil by a tempestuous gust bluster down the house, and rob him of his children?
1876. G. Meredith, Beauch. Career, II. iii. 42. A south-western autumnal gale … made threads of Cecilia’s shorter locks … blustering the curls that streamed … from the silken band.
† 3. intr. Of persons: To blow, breathe hard.
1530. Palsgr., 459/1. He blustereth as thoughe he had laboured sore.
† b. Of a wind-instrument: To blow or blast boisterously. Obs.
a. 1590. Randolph, in M’Crie, Life Knox, II. 41. Six hundred trumpets continually blustering in our ears.
† 4. trans. To utter with a blast, or with stormy violence and noise. Usually with out or forth.
a. 1535. More, Wks., 374. He bloweth and blustereth out at last his abhominable blasphemy.
1548. Cranmer, Catech., 23. These more then deuylish swerers … do blowe & bluster oute of theyr vngodly mouthes such blasphemies.
1604. T. Wright, Passions, IV. i. 110. Foolish mouths … bluster foorth follies.
5. intr. Of persons: To storm or rage boisterously; to talk with inflated violence; to utter loud empty menaces or protests, to hector, play the bully.
a. 1494–1631. [see BLUSTERING vbl. sb.1 2].
1633. T. Adams, Exp. 2 Peter, i. 18. There stalks pride, blustering through the streets.
a. 1688. Villiers (Dk. Buckhm.), Milit. Couple, Wks. (1775), 128. Sir John … swore and bluster’d like a hero in one of our modern tragedies.
a. 1690. Bp. Hopkins, Wks. (1701), 815 (R.). When they storm and bluster at the difficulties of Salvation.
1773. Johnson, Lett., 79 (1788), I. 136. Boswell blustered, but nothing could be got.
1835. Marryat, Jac. Faithf., xxix. Monsieur Tagliabue stormed and blustered.
1866. Felton, Anc. & Mod. Gr., II. ix. 154. He [Cleon] could talk and bluster on the bema.
b. trans. To force, or drive, by blustering.
1655. Fuller, Ch. Hist., XI. § 15. 6 (Webster). He meant to bluster all future Princes … into a perfect obedience unto his commands.
1753. Richardson, Grandison (1781), I. ii. 5. We have … blustered away between us half a score more of her admirers.
1867. E. Yates, Forlorn Hope, xxviii. The one point on which he could neither satisfy himself by a feeling of pity, nor bluster himself into a fit of indignation.
