bluster

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to speak loudly and aggressively with little effect; noisy empty boasting

   He could bluster all he liked, but the verdict stood.

Simplified etymology

Bluster first appears in late Middle English meaning “shout angrily,” later developing the sense “make largely empty threats.” Its use for strong winds is recorded only from the mid-16th century, though the word probably belongs to a sound-associated Germanic group that includes blow and blast.

From Middle English blustren ('to blow violently, wander'), probably of Low German origin, related to Middle Low German blüstren ('to blow violently'); of ultimately imitative formation.

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