Blowzed is an adjective used to describe someone with a red, flushed face, often due to excessive drinking. The phonetic transcription of the word is /bləʊzd/, with the "ow" sound being pronounced like the "o" in "low". The "z" sound at the end is pronounced like a voiced "s", which is produced by continuous airflow through the mouth. Despite its rare usage, the spelling of blowzed remains unchanged over the years, highlighting the English language's intricate and often perplexing spelling rules.
The word "blowzed" is derived from the Middle English term "blowen", which means "to bloom" or "to blossom". In Old English, it was "blōwan". Over time, "blowzed" evolved to describe a flower or a person with a reddened or flushed face, often due to being windblown or exposed to the elements. In modern usage, "blowzed" refers to someone with a ruddy or disheveled appearance, particularly their hair or cheeks.