▪ I. blore, n. arch.
(blɔə(r))
[app. related to blow, blast; but the form does not seem capable of etymological explanation; perhaps it is partly onomatopœic (an ‘expressive word,’ Johnson). The last quot. is of course an echo of Chapman, who was exceedingly addicted to the word.]
A violent blowing, a blast or gust; also fig. stormy breath, bluster.
| c 1440 York Myst. xxvi. 188 Byde me here bewchere Or more blore be blowen. 1559 Mirr. Mag. 838 Hurried headlong with the south-west blore. 1598 Chapman Iliad ix. 5 The west wind and the north..join in a sudden blore. 1616 ― Musæus 306 Take heed that no ungentle blore The torch extinguish. 1755 Johnson, Blore, act of blowing; blast; an expressive word, but not used. 1872 Blackie Lays Highl. 9 A cloud came darkling From the west with gusty blore. |
b. transf. The air. [L. aura.]
| c 1614 Chapman Odyss. iv. 1138 She, through the key-hole of the door, Vanish'd again into the open blore. |
▪ II. blore, v. Obs. exc. dial.
[A variant or parallel form of blare.]
intr. To cry, cry out, weep; of animals, to bleat, bray, bellow.
| c 1440 Promp. Parv. 40 Bloryyn or wepyn, ploro, fleo. 1865 Cornh. Mag. July 38 [The peasant] possesses a series of imitative sounds for the cries of various animals..Cattle are said to ‘blore,’ and sheep ‘rout.’ 1877 Peacock Lincoln. Gloss., Blore, to bellow as oxen do; to cry loudly: commonly used with regard to children. |