More on the word blizzard
FYI Etymology (you can tell I am snowed-in):
US origin, first surface in a newspaper during harsh storms on East Coast US in 1880-1881 but was used colloquially before then, possibly an onomatopeic word coming from blast, blow, bluster or blister (?).
All according to hard copy edition of Oxford Etymological Dictionary--sorry, can't seem to find a link.
US origin, first surface in a newspaper during harsh storms on East Coast US in 1880-1881 but was used colloquially before then, possibly an onomatopeic word coming from blast, blow, bluster or blister (?).
All according to hard copy edition of Oxford Etymological Dictionary--sorry, can't seem to find a link.
posted by Celestial at 11:38 AM
1 Comments:
More from the OED (Carried over from the post below...):
2. A furious blast of frost-wind and blinding snow, in which man and beast frequently perish; a ‘snow-squall’. Also attrib. and Comb. orig. U.S.
1859 L. B. WOLF Diary 1 Dec. in Kansas Hist. Q. (1932) I. 205 A blizzard had come upon us about midnight... Shot 7 horses that were so chilled could not get up. 1876 Monthly Weather Rev. Dec. 424 The very severe storms known in local parlance as ‘blizzards’ were reported on the 8th as prevailing in Iowa and Wisconsin. 1880 Let. 29 Dec., fr. Chicago in Manch. Even. News, 24 Jan. 1881 The thermometer was 17 degrees below zero last night, and it was blowing a blizzard all the time. 1881 Standard 22 Jan. 5/1 The region [Manitoba] is swept by those fearful blasts known as ‘blizzards’ which send the ‘poudre’, or dry snow, whirling in icy clouds. 1881 N.Y. Nation 184 The hard weather has called into use a word which promises to become a national Americanism, namely ‘blizzard’. It designates a storm (of snow and wind) which men cannot resist away from shelter. 1882 Contemp. Rev. Sept. 350 Those bitter ‘blizzards’ so justly dreaded by all who have to do with live stock. 1888 T. WATTS in Athenæum 18 Aug. 224/2 By Ferrol Bay those galleys stoop To blasts more dire than breath of Orkney blizzard. 1902 R. F. SCOTT Jrnl. 12 Aug. in Voyage of ‘Discovery’ (1905) I. ix. 383 Another blizzard, so thick that one cannot see one's hand before one's face. 1903 Ibid. 12 Dec. II. xviii. 276 Our long stay in the blizzard camp. 1912 {emem} Jrnl. Mar. in Scott's Last Expedition (1913) I. xx. 592 It was blowing a blizzard. He [sc. Captain Oates] said, ‘I am just going outside and may be some time.’ He went out into the blizzard and we have not seen him since. 1963 D. W. & E. E. HUMPHRIES tr. Termier's Erosion & Sedimentation i. 8 The coldest, blizzard-swept regions of the world. 1969 Times 8 Feb. 1/2 Blizzards and icy winds swept across Britain yesterday.
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