Blizzard
/ˈblɪz.əd/noun
A severe snowstorm with strong winds and low visibility.
Did you know?The word’s origin is uncertain, but it likely arose in American English in the 19th century and may be related to older words for a sudden blow or explosive burst rather than anything mystical.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bʰel-
“to blow, swell, or flash”
Old English
OE
blǣst
“a blast or blowing”
Middle English
ME
blasten
“to blow strongly”
18th–19th Century
English
blizzard
“a sudden violent storm or burst of something”
Modern English
English
blizzard
“a severe snowstorm with strong winds and low visibility”