Blust

Part of speech: noun, verb

Definitions

1. An archaic term for a sudden gust or squall of wind ; to blow with force, as a strong wind does
2. A sudden rush of wind, chiefly in older English usage ; to send out a forceful current of air
3. An old word for a brief, strong burst of wind ; to puff or gust fiercely, the way a storm does

Etymology: Blust is an older variant of "blast," used for a gust of wind or a sudden rush of air. It turns up in Middle English and survived in northern English and Scots dialect, where speakers kept the vowel that standard English later changed. The form tracks back to Old English "blǣst," meaning a blowing or a breath, which is the direct ancestor of modern "blast." The root is also behind "blow," since both words likely descend from a Germanic base meaning to puff or breathe out. The shared origin explains why "blust," "blast," and "blow" all name different kinds of moving air. The exact date when "blust" first appeared in writing is uncertain.