Chapter Blotch to Blue of B by Webster's Dictionary (1913 Edition)

2. A sudden or forcible act or effort; an assault.

A vigorous blow might win [Hanno's camp].
T. Arnold.

3. The infliction of evil; a sudden calamity; something which produces mental, physical, or financial suffering or loss (esp. when sudden); a buffet.

A most poor man, made tame to fortune's blows.
Shak.

At a blow, suddenly; at one effort; by a single vigorous act. "They lose a province at a blow." Dryden. — To come to blows, to engage in combat; to fight; - - said of individuals, armies, and nations.

Syn. — Stroke; knock; shock; misfortune.

Blow
(Blow), v. i. [imp. Blew (blu); p. p. Blown (blon); p. pr. & vb. n. Blowing.] [OE. blawen, blowen, AS. blawan to blow, as wind; akin to OHG. plajan, G. blähen, to blow up, swell, L. flare to blow, Gr. 'ekflai`nein to spout out, and to E. bladder, blast, inflate, etc., and perh. blow to bloom.]

1. To produce a current of air; to move, as air, esp. to move rapidly or with power; as, the wind blows.

Hark how it rains and blows !
Walton.

2. To send forth a forcible current of air, as from the mouth or from a pair of bellows.

3. To breathe hard or quick; to pant; to puff.

Here is Mistress Page at the door, sweating and blowing.
Shak.

4. To sound on being blown into, as a trumpet.

There let the pealing organ blow.
Milton.

5. To spout water, etc., from the blowholes, as a whale.

6. To be carried or moved by the wind; as, the dust blows in from the street.

The grass blows from their graves to thy own.
M. Arnold.

7. To talk loudly; to boast; to storm. [Colloq.]

You blow behind my back, but dare not say anything to my face.
Bartlett.

To blow hot and cold(a saying derived from a fable of Æsop's), to favor a thing at one time and treat it coldly at another; or to appear both to favor and to oppose. — To blow off, to let steam escape through a passage provided for the purpose; as, the engine or steamer is blowing off. — To blow out. (a) To be driven out by the expansive force of a gas or vapor; as, a steam cock or valve sometimes blows out. (b) To talk violently or abusively. [Low] — To blow over, to pass away without effect; to cease, or be dissipated; as, the storm and the clouds have blown over. — To blow up, to be torn to pieces and thrown into the air as by an explosion of powder or gas or the expansive force of steam; to burst; to explode; as, a powder mill or steam boiler blows up. "The enemy's magazines blew up." Tatler.

Blow
(Blow), v. t.

1. To force a current of air upon with the mouth, or by other means; as, to blow the fire.