What is a Blizzard ?

With the anniversary of the Blizzard of '78 approaching, more folks are searching for it on the web. We'll talk a little about blizzards in general here at ToddGross.com and work-up a little info on that event as well as a few other major winter storms.. coming up in the February.
'Til then, the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Management has a nice PHOTO GALLERY of the blizzard of 1978..

It was a storm that changed the way Americans prepare for significant winter weather events. The NWS marked the 20th anniversary in 1998 with this Press Release.

The National Weather Service defines a blizzard (and a blizzard warning) as:

Blizzard

(abbrev. BLZD)- A blizzard means that the following conditions are expected to prevail for a period of 3 hours or longer:

• Sustained wind or frequent gusts to 35 miles an hour or greater; and
• Considerable falling and/or blowing snow (i.e., reducing visibility frequently to less than ¼ mile)

Blizzard Warning

Issued for winter storms with sustained or frequent winds of 35 mph or higher with considerable falling and/or blowing snow that frequently reduces visibility to 1/4 of a mile or less. These conditions are expected to prevail for a minimum of 3 hours.

Does it have to be actually SNOWING for there to be blizzard conditions ? NO!
Blowing snow combined with high winds can create blizzard conditions.

blowing snow—Snow lifted from the surface of the earth by the wind to a height of 2 m (6 ft) or  more above the surface (higher than drifting snow), and blown about in such quantities that  horizontal visibility is reduced to less than 11 km (about 7 statute miles). As an obstruction to vision, it is encoded BS in a surface aviation weather observation and  as BLSN as an obstruction to vision in a METAR or SPECI observation. Blowing snow can be falling snow or snow that already accumulated but is picked up and blown about by strong winds. It is one of the classic requirements for a blizzard. (AMS Glossary)

Source: What is the definition of a blizzard and how does a blizzard form?, NWS Sioux Falls, SD

Where did the term 'blizzard' come from ?
"In the 1870's, an Iowa newspaper used the word "blizzard" to describe a snowstorm. Previously, the term blizzard referred to a canon shot or a volley of musket fire. By the 1880's, the use of the word blizzard was used by many across the United States and in England."
Source : Blizzards - NWS Flagstaff, AZ