English
blizzard
Blizzard comes from Old English blysa ‘blaze’, and goes back to Proto-Germanic *blusją ‘torch’.
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*blusją‘torch’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*blusireconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150blysa‘blaze’
- Englishearliest quotation 2013blizzard
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*blusją‘torch’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*blusireconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150blysa‘blaze’
- Englishearliest quotation 2013blizzard
Earliest quotation: 2013, Snakes and ladders: “Risk is everywhere.[…]For each one there is a frighteningly…”
The story
Unknown, with various theories as below.disputed Scholars disagree here; the competing view is quoted as the source gives it. Etymology theoriesdisputed Scholars disagree here; the competing view is quoted as the source gives it. BLIZZARD (7th S. v. 106).—The word blizzard is well known through the Midlands, and its cognates are fairly numerous. I have known the word and its kin fully thirty years.
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *bʰel- ‘to blaze, burn, shine’
ball, bowl, bell, bull, bold, flame, bald, boil, bale, blaze, blush, bleach, blur, bolster, budge, sabha, blemish, bola, phlegm, phallus, bolero, phlox, blain, blithe, bleat, 74 more
Today it means
noun A large snowstorm accompanied by strong winds and greatly reduced visibility caused by blowing snow.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Germanic *blusją / blizzard