1. A forcible stroke with the hand, fist, or some instrument, as a rod, a club, an ax, or a sword. Well struck ! there was blow for blow. Shak.
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; p. p. Blown; p. pr. & vb. n. Blowing.] Etym:
[OE. blawen, blowen, AS. bl to blow, as wind; akin to OHG. pl, G.
blähen, to blow up, swell, L. flare to blow, Gr. 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.