blasty a [phonetics unavailable]. Cp EDD blast v 2 'to feed a fire with furze' Do So; sb 4 'branch of dry furze, used for "blasting out" the oven' So Co. Of the branch(es) of a spruce or fir, dead and dry but with the needles, now red or brown, still adhering; esp in comb blasty bough, blassy ~ [phonetics unavailable]: such a branch which, used as kindling, burns with a quick, fierce, crackling flame; cp BOUGH n, SPARCHY BOUGH.
   1931 BYRNES 36 Laying the 'table' on the moss covered ground, gathering the 'blasty' boughs for the fire, boiling the 'kittle.' 1944 LAWTON& DEVINE 18 The boys made bonfires at night of tar barrels and 'blasty' boughs as a final act in the celebration [of Guy Fawkes Day]. 1966 SCAMMELL 127 "Bakeapple Jam": Uncle Isaac finds some blasty boughs and cuts a kettle stick, / Aunt Betsy brought a rounder and she shares a bit with Gran. 1972 MURRAY 246 In order to 'boil the kettle' quickly, they needed fuel that burnt easily. Most women liked to use 'blassy boughs' (dry, blasted, red branches of fir trees) for a quick, hot fire. P 245-76 Next to the fierce, crackling sound of the fire fed with blasty boughs, what I most recall is the distinct aromatic, resinous smell of the burning boughs. 1979 Evening Telegram 8 Feb, p. 6 Dried slash which has turned blasty is easily ignited and once alight will start the kind of fire which will destroy a large area of forest.

Go Back