Obs. Also 3–4 bles, 7 blass. [In ME. use either a phonetic variant or parallel form of BLAST, f. OE. *blǽsan, ON. blása, etc. to blow. In sense 2 it was invented by Van Helmont, probably with a reference to the same root; cf. his other term GAS.]
1. A blast, breath.
c. 1205. Lay., 27818. Þa eorðe gon beouien for þon vnimete blase.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., Þes deofles bles, & his owene stefne.
c. 1370. Clene Maydenh., 30. Hit wendeþ away as wyndes bles.
a. 1380. Sir Ferumb., 2648. Þay herde þat blas [of horns].
2. Van Helmont’s term for a supposed ‘flatus’ or influence of the stars, producing changes of weather.
1662. J. Chandler, Van Helmont’s Oriat., 78. The Stars … cause the changes, seasons, and successive courses or interchanges. To which end, they have need of a twofold motion … I signifie both these by the new name of Blas.
1669. W. Simpson, Hydrol. Chym., 129. The next arbitrary Blass or flatus.
1812. Sir H. Davy, Chem. Philos., 19. Van Helmont has used a term not so applicable or so intelligible as gas, viz. Blas.
1875. Whitney, Life Lang., vii. 120.
