bluster

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English

WOTD – 20 March 2009

Etymology

From Middle English blusteren (“to wander about aimlessly”); however, apparently picking up the modern sense from Middle Low German blüstren (“to blow violently”; compare later Low German blustern, blistern). Related to blow, blast. Compare also Saterland Frisian bloasje (“to blow”), bruusje (“to bluster”).

Pronunciation

  • Lua error in Module:parameters at line 159: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value UK is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /ˈblʌs.tə/
  • Lua error in Module:parameters at line 159: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value GA is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /ˈblʌs.tɚ/
  • Lua error in Module:parameters at line 159: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value US is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E.
    Audio:(file)
  • Lua error in Module:parameters at line 159: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value AU is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E.
    Audio:(file)
  • Rhymes: -ʌstə(r)

Noun

bluster (countable and uncountable, plural blusters)

  1. Pompous, officious talk.
    • 2013 June 22, “Engineers of a different kind”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8841, page 70:
      Private-equity nabobs bristle at being dubbed mere financiers. Piling debt onto companies’ balance-sheets is only a small part of what leveraged buy-outs are about, they insist. Improving the workings of the businesses they take over is just as core to their calling, if not more so. Much of their pleading is public-relations bluster.
  2. A gust of wind.
  3. Fitful noise and violence.

Synonyms

Translations

Verb

bluster (third-person singular simple present blusters, present participle blustering, simple past and past participle blustered)

  1. To speak or protest loudly.
    When confronted by opposition his reaction was to bluster, which often cowed the meek.
  2. To act or speak in an unduly threatening manner.
    • (Can we date this quote by Edmund Burke and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
      Your ministerial directors blustered like tragic tyrants.
    • (Can we date this quote by Thomas More and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
      He bloweth and blustereth out […] his abominable blasphemy.
    • (Can we date this quote by Fuller and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
      As if therewith he meant to bluster all princes into a perfect obedience to his commands.
  3. To blow in strong or sudden gusts.
    • (Can we date this quote by John Milton and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
      And ever-threatening storms / Of Chaos blustering round.

Translations

Derived terms

Derived terms

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Anagrams

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