Blurt
/blɜːrt/noun
To say something suddenly and impulsively, especially without thinking or intending to.
Did you know?Blurt is first recorded in the 16th century, and its exact origin is uncertain, but it likely imitates a sudden outpouring of speech—like language breaking its own spell.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bʰel-
“to swell, blow, or burst”
Old English
OE
blǣstan
“to blow, inflate”
Middle English
ME
blerten
“to speak or cry out suddenly; to burst out”
16th Century
English
blurt
“to utter abruptly or without restraint”
Modern English
English
blurt
“to say something suddenly and impulsively, often revealing more than intended”