blister
[blis-ter]
- a thin vesicle on the skin, containing watery matter or serum, as from a burn or other injury.
- any similar swelling, as an air bubble in a coat of paint.
- a relatively large bubble occurring in glass during blowing.
- Military. a transparent bulge or dome on the fuselage of an airplane, usually for mounting a gun.
- Photography. a bubble of air formed where the emulsion has separated from the base of a film, as because of defective processing.
- a dome or skylight on a building.
- the moving bubble in a spirit level.
- a small blisterlike covering of plastic, usually affixed to a piece of cardboard and containing a small item, as a pen, bolt, or medicinal tablet.
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- to raise a blister or blisters on: These new shoes blistered my feet.
- to criticize or rebuke severely: The boss blistered his assistant in front of the whole office.
- to beat or thrash; punish severely.
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- to form or rise as a blister or blisters; become blistered.
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Origin of blister
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for blister
Contemporary Examples
I ended up developing a blister on one of my vocal cords, so that kinda sucked.
Blister rust is like having the flu; the pine beetle is like fast acting leukemia.
Briefly, blister rust is an Asian fungus introduced from Europe to America around 1900.
Historical Examples
Do not place the spit too near the fire, lest the skin should burn and blister.
Directions for Cookery, in its Various BranchesEliza Leslie
A blister should be employed as soon as possible, and mild emollient injections of gruel or barley water, till stools be obtained.
For the pain in the head, a blister to the nape of the neck.
If I have a sore throat, it would be useless to blister you for it: that is his idea.
The Soul of a PeopleH. Fielding
His face was yellowing again, under the blister of sun and alkali.
Warrior GapCharles King
blister
- a small bubble-like elevation of the skin filled with serum, produced as a reaction to a burn, mechanical irritation, etc
- a swelling containing air or liquid, as on a painted surface
- a transparent dome or any bulge on the fuselage of an aircraft, such as one used for observation
- slang an irritating person
- NZ slang a rebuke
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- to have or cause to have blisters
- (tr) to attack verbally with great scorn or sarcasm
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Word Origin
C13: from Old French blestre, probably from Middle Dutch bluyster blister; see blast
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for blister
n.
c.1300, perhaps via Old French blestre "blister, lump, bump," from a Scandinavian source (cf. Old Norse blastr "a blowing," dative blæstri "swelling"), or from Middle Dutch blyster "swelling;" perhaps from PIE *bhlei- "to blow, swell," extension of root *bhel- (2) "to blow, inflate, swell;" see bole.
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v.
"to become covered in blisters," late 15c.; "to raise blisters on," 1540s, from blister (n.). Related: Blistered; blistering.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
blister
(blĭs′tər)- A local swelling of the skin that contains watery fluid and is caused by burning, infection, or irritation.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.