Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Blister?

\Blis"ter\, n. [OE.; akin to OD. bluyster, fr. the same root as blast, bladder, blow. See {Blow} to eject wind.] 1. A vesicle of the skin, containing watery matter or serum, whether occasioned by a burn or other injury, or by a vesicatory; a collection of serous fluid causing a bladderlike elevation of the cuticle. And painful blisters swelled my tender hands. --Grainger. 2. Any elevation made by the separation of the film or skin, as on plants; or by the swelling of the substance at the surface, as on steel. 3. A vesicatory; a plaster of Spanish flies, or other matter, applied to raise a blister. --Dunglison. {Blister beetle}, a beetle used to raise blisters, esp. the {Lytta (or Cantharis) vesicatoria}, called {Cantharis} or {Spanish fly} by druggists. See {Cantharis}. {Blister fly}, a blister beetle. {Blister plaster}, a plaster designed to raise a blister; -- usually made of Spanish flies. {Blister steel}, crude steel formed from wrought iron by cementation; -- so called because of its blistered surface. Called also {blistered steel}. {Blood blister}. See under {Blood}.
\Blis"ter\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Blistered}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Blistering}.] To be affected with a blister or blisters; to have a blister form on. Let my tongue blister. --Shak.
\Blis"ter\, v. t. 1. To raise a blister or blisters upon. My hands were blistered. --Franklin. 2. To give pain to, or to injure, as if by a blister. This tyrant, whose sole name blisters our tongue. --Shak.