Blast
/blæst/noun
A sudden strong gust of wind, a violent explosion, or a sharp burst of force.
Did you know?The word’s history is tied to old Germanic ideas of blowing and bursting, which is why it can still mean both a wind blast and a loud explosion.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bʰleh₁-
“to blow, swell, or breathe”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*blastaz
“a blowing, puff, or gust”
Old English
English
blǣst
“a blowing, a gust of wind”
Middle English
English
blast
“a strong wind; later, a burst or explosion”
Modern English
English
blast
“a sudden strong gust, burst, or explosion”