Bluster comes 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. The historical trail runs through blüstren in Middle Low German. Its formation is sound-symbolic rather than a regular transparent compound, with the older form echoing the sound named in the history. Used as a verb and noun, bluster now means "speak loudly and aggressively with little effect; noisy empty boasting", so the present definition can be read against the older forms and meanings. The same lexical family is also visible in derived forms such as blustery, blusterer, and blustering. For dictionary purposes, the important point is the continuity between the historical form and the modern word bluster.