- blaze (1)
- "fire," O.E. blęse "a torch, flame," from P.Gmc. *blason, from PIE *bhles- "shine," from base *bhel- (see black). The verb is early 13c. Blazes as a euphemism for "hell" dates from 1818.
- blaze (2)
- "light-colored mark or spot," 1639, northern Eng. dialect, probably from O.N. blesi "white spot on a horse's face" (from the same root as blaze (1)). Applied 1662 in Amer.Eng. to marks cut on tree trunks to indicate a track. The verb "to mark a trail" is first recorded 1750, Amer.Eng.
- blaze (3)
- "make public" (often in a bad sense, boastfully), late 14c., from M.Du. blasen "to blow" (on a trumpet), from P.Gmc. *blaes-an, from PIE *bhle-, var. of base *bhel- "to swell, blow up" (see bole).