First published 1887; not yet revised More entries for blush
Factsheet
What does the word blush mean?
There are eight meanings listed in OED's entry for the word blush, two of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.
Entry status
OED is undergoing a continuous programme of revision to modernize and improve definitions. This entry has not yet been fully revised.
How common is the word blush?
About 1occurrence per million words in modern written English
See frequency
How is the word blush pronounced?
British English
/blʌʃ/
blush
U.S. English
/bləʃ/
blush
See pronunciation
Where does the word blush come from?
Earliest known use
Middle English
The earliest known use of the word blush is in the Middle English period (1150—1500).
OED's earliest evidence for blush is from around 1390, in Joseph of Arimathie: otherwise called The romance of the seint graal, or holy grail, an alliterative poem.
blush is formed within English, by conversion.
Etymons: blush v.
See etymology
Nearby entries
- blurrily, adv.1868–
- blurriness, n.1937–
- blurring, n.1601–
- blurring, adj.1851–
- blurry, adj.1884–
- blurt, n.1579–
- blurt, v.1573–
- 1592–
- blurting, n.1598–
- blurting, adj.1844–
- blush, n. & adj.c1390–
- blush, v.?a1400–
- blusher, n.1665–
- blusher veil, n.1936–
- blushet, n.1616–31
- blushful, adj.1611–
- blushiness, n.1865–
- blushing, n.1581–
- blushing, adj.1597–
- blushingly, adv.1598–
- blushless, adj.1566–
Browse more nearby entries
Etymology
Thank you for visiting Oxford English Dictionary
To continue reading, please sign in below or purchase a subscription. After purchasing, please sign in below to access the content.
View our subscription options
Personal account
- Access or purchase personal subscriptions
- Get our newsletter
- Save searches
- Set display preferences
Sign in Register
Institutional access
Sign in through your institution
Sign in with library card
Sign in with username / password
Recommend to your librarian
Institutional account management
Meaning & use
Thank you for visiting Oxford English Dictionary
To continue reading, please sign in below or purchase a subscription. After purchasing, please sign in below to access the content.
View our subscription options
Personal account
- Access or purchase personal subscriptions
- Get our newsletter
- Save searches
- Set display preferences
Sign in Register
Institutional access
Sign in through your institution
Sign in with library card
Sign in with username / password
Recommend to your librarian
Institutional account management
Pronunciation
Thank you for visiting Oxford English Dictionary
To continue reading, please sign in below or purchase a subscription. After purchasing, please sign in below to access the content.
View our subscription options
Personal account
- Access or purchase personal subscriptions
- Get our newsletter
- Save searches
- Set display preferences
Sign in Register
Institutional access
Sign in through your institution
Sign in with library card
Sign in with username / password
Recommend to your librarian
Institutional account management
Frequency
Thank you for visiting Oxford English Dictionary
To continue reading, please sign in below or purchase a subscription. After purchasing, please sign in below to access the content.
View our subscription options
Personal account
- Access or purchase personal subscriptions
- Get our newsletter
- Save searches
- Set display preferences
Sign in Register
Institutional access
Sign in through your institution
Sign in with library card
Sign in with username / password
Recommend to your librarian
Institutional account management
Compounds & derived words
Thank you for visiting Oxford English Dictionary
To continue reading, please sign in below or purchase a subscription. After purchasing, please sign in below to access the content.
View our subscription options
Personal account
- Access or purchase personal subscriptions
- Get our newsletter
- Save searches
- Set display preferences
Sign in Register
Institutional access
Sign in through your institution
Sign in with library card
Sign in with username / password
Recommend to your librarian
