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blis·ter

(blĭstər)

a. A local swelling of the skin that contains watery fluid and is caused by burning or irritation.

b. A similar swelling on a plant.

a. A raised bubble, as on a painted or laminated surface.

b. A rounded, bulging, usually transparent structure, such as one used for observation on certain aircraft or for display and protection of packaged products.

v. blis·tered, blis·ter·ing, blis·ters

v.tr.

1. To cause a blister to form on.

2. To reprove harshly.

v.intr.

To break out in or as if in blisters.

[Middle English, probably from Old French blestre, of Germanic origin.]

blister·y adj.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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