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blancus

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Etymology and origin of the Latin word blancus

Confidence
Established
Formation
Borrowing
First attested
950s, Leo of Naples
Borrowed from
Frankish *blank
Ultimate origin
Proto-Germanic *blankaz

Forms

blancus (feminine blanca, neuter blancum); first/second-declension adjective[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Frankish *blank (“white”),[1] from a Germanic adjective that Köbler gives as Proto-Germanic *blankaz (“white, shining”);[2][3] Niermeyer likewise calls it Germanic.[4] Köbler connects it with Proto-Indo-European *bʰleg- (“to shine, burn”).[2]

It is the source of Old French blanc,[5][6] from which English has blank and blanch.[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

Wiktionary records it as an adjective from at least the 950s, in the writings of Leo of Naples, and earlier as the byname of a Constantius Blancus in a Ravenna document of 893.[1]

Semantic evolution

Medieval writers use it for white things of every kind, such as horses, tunics and cloth.[3] In alchemy argentum or fūmus blancus was quicksilver.[3][2] As a masculine noun it named a small silver coin, French blanc;[4][7][2] the feminine named a whitish compound medicine and the neuter white lead.[3] Du Cange also records it of a white cloth in a document of 1420.[7] English blank was the name of a small French coin from the late 14th century.[6]

Timeline

  • 893 – A Ravenna document names a Constantius Blancus.[1]
  • 950s – Leo of Naples uses it as an adjective.[1]
  • 1086 – Domesday Book has it as a personal name.[5][2]
  • 1198 – A charter requires payment of twelve blancī, silver coins.[7]
  • early 13th century – English blank “white, pale” is borrowed from Old French blanc.[6]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. (Medieval Latin) white, whitish.[1][4][3][5]

Noun

  1. (Medieval Latin, masculine) A small silver coin.[4][7][2]
  2. (Medieval Latin, feminine) A whitish compound medicine.[3]
  3. (Medieval Latin, neuter) white lead.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  4. ^ a b c d Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  5. ^ a b c Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
  6. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  7. ^ a b c d du Cange, Charles du Fresne, et al. (1883–1887), Glossarium mediae et infimae latinitatis, augmented ed. by Léopold Favre, Niort: L. Favre

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Blancus.” Etymologically, 23 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/blancus. Accessed 23 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·