Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
BLASH, v., tr. and intr.
1. Of water: to descend, pour down with a splashing noise.Sc. 1928 J. G. Horne Lan'wart Loon 18; Abd.2, Ags.1 1934:
The linn was blashin' doon afore, But noo it was ae fearsome roar.
ppl.adj. blashin, rushing.Edb. 1917 T. W. Paterson Wyse-Sayin's o' Solomon i.:
Whan on comes yer fricht Like a blashin spate.
2. Esp. of rain, sleet, snow: to batter against a person or thing (Ayr. 2000s).Sc. 1827 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) I. 330; Bnff.2 1934:
Hail and sleet . . . blashing against me on the hill.Ayr. 1887 J. Service Dr Duguid 132:
I listened to the wind roaring at the lumheid and the rain blashing on the window.sm.Sc. 1988 W. A. D. and D. Riach A Galloway Glossary :
blashin raining heavily.
Hence, (1) ppl.adj. blashan, blashin', and (2) vbl.n. blashin', (a) splashing; (b) fig. an outburst (of temper).(1) Ags. 1856 W. Grant Few Poet. Pieces 84:
But pourin' rain or blashin' sleet.Rnf. 1788 E. Picken Poems 91:
Whan a' the fiels are clad wi' sna', An' blashan rains, or cranreughs fa'.(2) (a) Sc. 1930 J. A. Penny in Scots Mag. (Dec.) 223:
What cares he for blashin's frae cloud or frae well? He's like a wee gowpen o' water himsel'.(b) Edb. 1917 T. W. Paterson Wyse-Sayin's o' Solomon xxv. 23:
An' the clish-clash o' ill-hairtit claiverers steers mony a blashin o' temper.
3. (See quot.)Sc. 1808 Jam.:
“To blash one's stomach,” to drink too copiously of any weak and diluting liquor.
