blood

I. noun Usage: often attributive Etymology: Middle English, from Old English blōd; akin to Old High German bluot blood Date: before 12th century 1. a. (1) the fluid that circulates in the heart, arteries, capillaries, and veins of a vertebrate animal carrying nourishment and oxygen to and bringing away waste products from all parts of the body (2) a comparable fluid of an invertebrate b. a fluid resembling blood 2. the shedding of blood; also the taking of life 3. a. lifeblood; broadly life b. human stock or lineage; especially royal lineage <

a prince of the blood

> c. relationship by descent from a common ancestor ; kinship d. persons related through common descent ; kindred e. (1) honorable or high birth or descent (2) descent from parents of recognized breed or pedigree 4. a. blood regarded as the seat of the emotions ; temper b. obsolete lust c. a showy foppish man ; rake 5. members of a team, staff, or organization ; personnel <

a company in need of new blood

> 6. a black American male — used especially among blacks II. transitive verb Date: 1540 1. to stain or wet with blood 2. archaic bleed 1 3. to expose (a hunting dog) to sight, scent, or taste of the blood of its prey 4. to give experience to <

troops blooded in battle

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