blast

n. [ AS. bl&aemacr_;st a puff of wind, a blowing; akin to Icel. blāstr, OHG. blāst, and fr. a verb akin to Icel. blāsa to blow, OHG. blâsan, Goth. blēsan (in comp.); all prob. from the same root as E. blow. See Blow to eject air. ] 1. A violent gust of wind. [ 1913 Webster ]

And see where surly Winter passes off,
Far to the north, and calls his ruffian blasts;
His blasts obey, and quit the howling hill. Thomson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A forcible stream of air from an orifice, as from a bellows, the mouth, etc. Hence: The continuous blowing to which one charge of ore or metal is subjected in a furnace; as, to melt so many tons of iron at a blast. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The terms hot blast and cold blast are employed to designate whether the current is heated or not heated before entering the furnace. A blast furnace is said to be in blast while it is in operation, and out of blast when not in use. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The exhaust steam from and engine, driving a column of air out of a boiler chimney, and thus creating an intense draught through the fire; also, any draught produced by the blast. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. The sound made by blowing a wind instrument; strictly, the sound produces at one breath. [ 1913 Webster ]

One blast upon his bugle horn
Were worth a thousand men. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

The blast of triumph o'er thy grave. Bryant. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A sudden, pernicious effect, as if by a noxious wind, especially on animals and plants; a blight. [ 1913 Webster ]

By the blast of God they perish. Job iv. 9. [ 1913 Webster ]

Virtue preserved from fell destruction's blast. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. The act of rending, or attempting to rend, heavy masses of rock, earth, etc., by the explosion of gunpowder, dynamite, etc.; also, the charge used for this purpose. “Large blasts are often used.” Tomlinson. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. A flatulent disease of sheep. [ 1913 Webster ]

Blast furnace, a furnace, usually a shaft furnace for smelting ores, into which air is forced by pressure. --
Blast hole, a hole in the bottom of a pump stock through which water enters. --
Blast nozzle, a fixed or variable orifice in the delivery end of a blast pipe; -- called also blast orifice. --
In full blast, in complete operation; in a state of great activity. See Blast, n., 2. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]