Blast n.
 1. A violent gust of wind.
 And see where surly Winter passes off,
 Far to the north, and calls his ruffian blasts;
 His blasts obey, and quit the howling hill.   --Thomson.
 2. A forcible stream of air from an orifice, as from a bellows, the mouth, etc. Hence: The continuous blowing to which one charge of ore or metal is subjected in a furnace; as, to melt so many tons of iron at a blast.
 Note: ☞ The terms hot blast and cold blast are employed to designate whether the current is heated or not heated before entering the furnace. A blast furnace is said to be in blast while it is in operation, and out of blast when not in use.
 3. The exhaust steam from and engine, driving a column of air out of a boiler chimney, and thus creating an intense draught through the fire; also, any draught produced by the blast.
 4. The sound made by blowing a wind instrument; strictly, the sound produces at one breath.
 One blast upon his bugle horn
 Were worth a thousand men.   --Sir W. Scott.
    The blast of triumph o'er thy grave.   --Bryant.
 5. A sudden, pernicious effect, as if by a noxious wind, especially on animals and plants; a blight.
    By the blast of God they perish.   --Job iv. 9.
    Virtue preserved from fell destruction's blast.   --Shak.
 6. The act of rending, or attempting to rend, heavy masses of rock, earth, etc., by the explosion of gunpowder, dynamite, etc.; also, the charge used for this purpose. “Large blasts are often used.”
 7. A flatulent disease of sheep.
 Blast furnace, a furnace, usually a shaft furnace for smelting ores, into which air is forced by pressure.
 Blast hole, a hole in the bottom of a pump stock through which water enters.
 Blast nozzle, a fixed or variable orifice in the delivery end of a blast pipe; -- called also blast orifice.
 In full blast, in complete operation; in a state of great activity. See Blast, n., 2. [Colloq.]