[f. BLAZE sb.2] trans. To mark (trees) with white by chipping off a piece of bark. Also to indicate (a spot or path) by such marks.
1812. J. Henry, Camp. agst. Quebec, 24. A path tolerably distinct, which we made more so by blazing the trees. Ibid. Blazing every carrying-place.
1850. Fraser’s Mag., XLI. 22. The settlers … blazed roads through the woods, by chipping the bark off the trees.
1859. Holland, Gold F., iii. 42. Plunge into the eternal forest that sleeps in front, and blaze the trees.
1878. H. M. Stanley, Dark Cont., II. xiii. 366. We ‘blazed’ very many of the largest with our hatchets.
