Middle English Dictionary Entry

blouen v.(1)
Quotations: Show all Hide all

Entry Info

Forms blouen v.(1) Also bloawen, blauen, bleuen. Forms: p. bleu(en, bleou(en, bleuh, ble(u)ȝ, blu(e, blou(en & blowed(e; ppl. i)bloue(n, blau(e)n, iblaue, eblaw, blew.
Etymology OE blāwan; blēow, blēowon; blāwen.

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

1.
(a) Of the wind: to blow; also fig.; (b) of the wind: to blow against, beat upon; drive (sth.) by blowing; also fig.; ~ awei, blow (sth.) away; also fig.; ~ doun, blow down, destroy; ~ out, blow out (a light); (c) to be carried or driven by the wind.
Show 32 Quotations
2.
(a) To breathe out, exhale; blow (in, on, upon sth.); also fig.; (b) to exhale (breath); emit (a snort, flames); ~ in (into), blow (a breath, spirit, life) into (sb., the body); ~ out breth (ending blast), breathe (one's) last, die; (c) ~ on (upon), to blow (infectious breath, poison) upon (sb.); infect (sb.) with a corrupting disease, taint; also fig.; elf-blouen, elf-tainted; (d) to blow (sth.) with the breath (or with bellows).
Show 30 Quotations
3.
(a) To blow (a fire) to make it burn harder; fig. excite (anger, devotion, etc.); -- with at, in, on, to; (b) to make (bellows) blow, work (the bellows); (c) to smelt (ore); obtain (metal) by smelting; cast (an object) of molten metal; to melt down (sth. metallic) for reuse; ~ samen (together), melt down (money, golden treasure).
Show 23 Quotations
4.
(a) To blow (a horn, etc.), play (a wind instrument); play (a note), blow (a blast), sound (a signal); ~ up, blow loudly; ~ to (unto) bataile (mete, etc.), blow the signal for battle, dining, etc.; (b) of a wind instrument: to sound, give out (a signal, command, etc.); proclaim (someone's name); of a blast: be blown; (c) ~ in a horn, to waste one's time, wait in vain; thi horn is blowen, etc., you are doomed, your time has come, etc.
Show 42 Quotations
5.
(a) To fill (sth.) with air, inflate (a bladder, etc.), distend (the stomach); fig. inflate (with pride); ppl. blouen, swollen, distended; (b) cook.?to raise the skin (of a chicken) by blowing.
Show 16 Quotations
6.
(a) To breathe heavily, pant, puff; take breath; ~ out, be winded; (b) of a goose: to hiss; of a boar: snort; of a crocodile: belch; (c) to break wind.
Show 9 Quotations
7.
(a) To speak violently, bluster, scold; complain loudly, boast noisily; (b) to pronounce (a curse), curse (sb.); (c) ~ bost (bosting), to brag loudly; ~ (out), upon, raise an outcry against (sb.); also hunt.; ~ a jape in his hod, delude (sb.), cheat, beguile.
Show 17 Quotations
8.
To make (widely) known, spread forth; blouen, known, spread abroad; of a person: renowned, notorious.
Show 8 Quotations
9.
?To strike (a blow); -- used fig..
Show 1 Quotation
10.
As an element in surnames.
Show 5 Quotations

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • c1300 SLeg.Patr.(LdMisc 108)366 : Ȝwy stanst þov so?..þinchþ þe þarof wonder Of þis swete smoke þat here bloweth and ȝwat put beo þare-onder.
  • a1475 Gawain & CC (Brog 2.1)340 : Hett reynnyd and blewe stormus felle That well was hym, be bocke and belle, That herborow had cavgt.
    • Note: New (additional) glosses for sense 1.(a).
    Note: Revise gloss for sense 1.(a): "Of the wind: to blow;--also in impers. construction with complement [quot. a1475]; of smoke: to move, swirl. "
  • c1400 Life Soul (LdMisc 210)47/12 : Men schullen blowe togydere here swerdes into scharres and here speres into sikeles.
    • Note: New (additional) gloss for sense 9.
    Note: Gloss: Also in prov. expression: ~ into, to beat (one's swords) into (plowshares).
  • c1425 Twiti Venery(1) (Vsp B.12)151 : We begynne atte hare, and why she is most merveylous best..and at one tyme he [is] male and other tyme female, and therefore may alle men blow at hyr as at othir bestis, that is to say at herte, at boor, and at wolf.
  • c1450 Twiti Venery(2) (Yale-BA Porter MS:MacNab)20/8 : The hare..somme-tyme..is male & summe female, and for þat cause a man nay [read:may] not blowe meene of hym as men don of oþer bestes.
    • Note: New (additional) glosses and phrase for sense 4.(a).
    Note: Modify existing gloss to include intransitive sense (for first supplment quot.): Hunt. To blow a signal on the horn to press the hounds onward; ~ mene, the signal blown when hounds are on the scent of the hare to press them onward.
  • c1425 Twiti Venery(1) (Vsp B.12)151 : If it be alway male, a man may blowe hir for to lede.
    • Note: Additional quot. for sense 4.(a).
Note: The list of variant spellings in the form section may be incomplete and / or may need revision to accord with standards of later volumes of the MED.--notes per MLL

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