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The Collaborative International Dictionary
Blister fly

Blister \Blis"ter\, n. [OE.; akin to OD. bluyster, fr. the same root as blast, bladder, blow. See Blow to eject wind.]

  1. A vesicle of the skin, containing watery matter or serum, whether occasioned by a burn or other injury, or by a vesicatory; a collection of serous fluid causing a bladderlike elevation of the cuticle.

    And painful blisters swelled my tender hands.
    --Grainger.

  2. Any elevation made by the separation of the film or skin, as on plants; or by the swelling of the substance at the surface, as on steel.

  3. A vesicatory; a plaster of Spanish flies, or other matter, applied to raise a blister.
    --Dunglison.

    Blister beetle, a beetle used to raise blisters, esp. the Lytta vesicatoria (or Cantharis vesicatoria), called Cantharis or Spanish fly by druggists. See Cantharis.

    Blister fly, a blister beetle.

    Blister plaster, a plaster designed to raise a blister; -- usually made of Spanish flies.

    Blister steel, crude steel formed from wrought iron by cementation; -- so called because of its blistered surface. Called also blistered steel.

    Blood blister. See under Blood.