Ruminations.
Where does the word "blazing" come from?
"Blazing" comes from the Old Englishblæse "a bright flame." The adjective appears around the late 1300s, but the noun and verb forms are earlier. Currently it can mean several things. Used as an epithet (i.e. "that blazing idiot") it appears in 1888, referring to "the blazes" which was a euphemism for Hell. "To blaze away" (as one does with cannon) is from 1776. "Blaze" meaning "a white mark made on a tree" is from the 1660s. The form meaning "to make public" (i.e. boastfully) does not appear to be from Old English, but rather from Middle Dutch blasen, "to blow" (as one does with trumpets). Links.NightCafe Image Source