blazing star
† 1. A comet. Obs.
| 1502 Arnolde Chron. (1811) 36 This yere..a blasing Sterre. 1587 Fleming Cont. Holinshed III. 344/1 In the moneth of Maie..a blasing starre appeared, descending in the north-west, the beard whereof streamed into the south-east. 1601 Shakes. All's Well i. iii. 91 And wee might haue a good woman borne but ore euerie blazing starre, or at an earthquake, 'twould mend the Lotterie well. 1640–1 Ld. J. Digby Sp. in Ho. Com. 9 Feb. 7 I looked upon it..with terrour, as upon a Commet, a blasing starre. 1711 Addison Spect. No. 127 ¶5 The same Prognostication as the Tail of a Blazing Star. 1762 Falconer Shipwr. iii. 563 Advances to the sun some blazing star. |
2. fig. The brilliant centre of admiration; ‘cynosure,’ ‘star.’ arch.
| 1460 Pol. Rel. & L. Poems (1866) 54 Heyle blasyng starre withowte peere! I beseche the as thou art moder of mercy. 1559 Mirr. Mag., Mowbray's Ban. xiii, Proud I that would alone be blasyng sterre. 1611 W. Barksted Hiren (1876) 106 Her beauty like a blazing starre admired. 1634 S. R. Noble Soldier iii. i. in Bullen O. Pl. (1882) I. 291 But that I must be held Spaines blazing Starre. 1818 Scott Hrt. Midl. xlviii, She has been the ruling belle—the blazing star—the universal toast of the winter. |
† 3. = blaze n.2 1.
| 1705 Lond. Gaz. No. 4183/4 A bay Gelding..3 white Feet, a Blazing Star. |
4. The popular name of three different North American plants: Aletris farinosa, Chamælirium luteum, and Liatris squarrosa. Also used of other plants with star-shaped flowers.
| 1789 Trans. Amer. Philos. Soc. III. p. xx, The root of Aletris farinosa..is called star-root, blazing star, devil's bit. 1822 A. Eaton Man. Bot. (ed. 3) 303 Blazing star; false unicorn root. 1836 A. H. Lincoln Fam. Lect. Bot. (ed. 5) App. 110 Liatris scariosa, blue blazing star. 1947 Desert Mag. May 28/3 Visitors will find..blazing star..in the Valley of Fire and other rocky areas. |