† blas Obs.
Also 3–4 bles, 7 blass.
[In ME. use either a phonetic variant or parallel form of blast, f. OE. *blǽsan, ON. blása, etc. to blow. In sense 2 it was invented by Van Helmont, probably with a reference to the same root; cf. his other term gas.]
1. A blast, breath.
| c 1205 Lay. 27818 Þa eorðe gon beouien for þon vnimete blase. a 1225 Ancr. R. Þes deofles bles, & his owene stefne. c 1370 Clene Maydenh. 30 Hit wendeþ away as wyndes bles. c 1380 Sir Ferumb. 2648 Þay herde þat blas [of horns]. |
2. Van Helmont's term for a supposed ‘flatus’ or influence of the stars, producing changes of weather.
| 1662 J. Chandler Van Helmont's Oriat. 78 The Stars..cause the changes, seasons, and successive courses or interchanges. To which end, they have need of a twofold motion..I signifie both these by the new name of Blas. 1669 W. Simpson Hydrol. Chym. 129 The next arbitrary Blass or flatus. 1812 Sir H. Davy Chem. Philos. 19 Van Helmont has used a term not so applicable or so intelligible as gas, viz. Blas. 1875 Whitney Life Lang vii. 120. |