Obs. [f. SPARROW, with jocular or contemptuous force.] The fact of being blasted or blighted by some mysterious power, sceptically regarded as unimportant or nonexistent.
1589. ? Nashe, Martin’s Months Mind, Ep. to Rdr. B j b. No more praying against thunder and lightning, than against sparrowe blasting.
1593. Tell-Troth’s N. Y. Gift (1876), 35. To lock vp ones wife, for fear of sparrow-blasting.
1617. J. Taylor (Water P.), Trav. to Hamburgh, E 2 b. Which two precious relickes I brought home with me to defend me and all my friends from sparrow blasting.
1633. T. Adams, Exp. 2 Peter ii. 6. Otherwise they say, we pray against sparrow-blasting.
