[COUNTER- 3.] a. A blast blown in opposition to another blast. b. A blast or energetic declaration against something.
1567. Stapleton (title), A Counterblast to M. Hornes vayne Blaste against M. Fekenham.
1604. James I. (title), A Counterblaste to Tobacco.
1642. Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., V. vii. 386. Till one unexpected counterblast of Fortune ruffled yea blew away all his projects.
1851. Brimley, Ess., Wordsw., 170. The Quarterly Review—established … as a counterblast to the great Whig Bellows.
1883. St. James’ Gaz., 27 Dec., 4/2. The Orange leaders replied by a Counter-blast.
Hence Counterblasting ppl. a., that issues counterblasts. (In quot. alluding to James I.’s Counterblast to Tobacco.)
1869. Daily News, 8 July, 5/2. An abatement of the extreme counterblasting style might also be recommended…. The anti-tobacconists endeavour to prove a great deal more than they can.
