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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BLAST, v.

1. To shout loudly, to boast, to speak in exaggerated language. Sc. 1816 Scott O. Mortality xiv::
And there this chield, Gabriel Kettledrummle, was blasting awa' to them on the hill-side, about lifting up their testimony.Bnff.² 1934.Abd. 1844 W. Thom Rhymes and Recoll. (1845) 153:
He blew an' blastit sairly, Till legs an' armies fairly Stood stark like ony treel

Ppl.adj. blasting, boastful. m.Lth. 1786 G. Robertson Har'st Rig (1801) 35:
Some carle that's weel ken'd to rift, Declares, whan in a blasting tift.

2. “To blow on the pipes” (Abd.¹⁹ 1934).Arg. 1898 (4th ed.) N. Munro John Splendid (1923) xiv.:
The pipers . . . were blasting lustily at Clanranald's March when they came up the lower part of the Glen.

3. “To pant, breathe hard” (n.Sc. 1808 Jam.; Bnff.² 1934; ne. Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.).Abd. [1768] A. Ross Helenore (1778) 24:
When up there comes twa shepherds out of breath, Raised like and blasting, and as haw as death.Fif. 1827 W. Tennant Papistry Storm'd 8:
Ye needna rin as ye were chas'd, And blast and blaw wi' sic a blatter!

4. “To smoke tobacco” (n.Sc. 1808 Jam.; n., w.Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.).Ags. 1890 Brechin Advertiser (5 Aug.) 3/3; Ags.² 1934:
My Grannie, puir body, says she's ower tired for doin' onything but sit i' the neuk an' blast tobacco.Rxb. 1807 J. Ruickbie Way-side Cottager 109:
Thus Habby an' his loving spouse Concerted matters in the house, While Grizzy at the fire was blastin', And Wattie aff his claes was castin'.

5. (See quots.) Found only as vbl.n.Rxb. 1825 Jam.²:
Blasting. The name given in Roxb. to the disease of cows otherwise called Cow-quake, q. v.Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.:
Blasting. A disease affecting cattle (esp. queys), characterised by swelling or hardening of the udder.

6. To paralyse; gen. used in pa.p. or as ppl.adj.Mry.¹ 1925; Bnff.⁶ 1920:
Blastit, paralysed.Bnff. 1782 W. Cramond Parish of Grange (1895) 15:
The list of Grange poor in 1782 shows that there were two blind, one mad, two blasted (that is, had had a stroke of paralysis).Abd.(D) 1903 W. Watson Glimpses o' Auld Lang Syne 69:
Auld Bawbie Leith, who was “blastit” (had a shock of paralysis) while setting her peats in the moss in the summer-time, had been again “blastit” — this time fatally.