blondus

Forms

blondus (feminine blonda, neuter blondum); first/second-declension adjective^[1] Also spelled blundus, the usual form in British sources.^[1][2][3]

Etymology

It is a Medieval Latin word of unknown origin, usually considered Germanic.^[1] Köbler and the MLW take it from Germanic,^[4][5] Köbler as borrowed from Proto-Germanic *blundaz, which he connects with Proto-Indo-European *bʰlendʰ- (“pale, reddish; to shimmer”).^[4] Wiktionary notes that no such word is attested in any Germanic language, since English and German blond are borrowed from Old French, so that the Germanic theory rests mainly on a comparison with Sanskrit ब्रध्न (bradhna, “yellowish, ruddy”).^[1] The DMLBS derives the form ⟨blundus⟩ from Old French blond,^[2] and Etymonline says the Latin and French words have the same uncertain source, perhaps Frankish *blund.^[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

It first appears as a byname in the Domesday Book, compiled in 1085–1086,^[7] which has the land of a Willelmus blundus and a Rodbertus Blondus.^[2] A charter of before 1155 speaks of land held in the time of King William blundus, meaning William Rufus;^[2][3] Du Cange remarks that the reddish colour of rūfus is what is called blondus.^[3]

Semantic evolution

It describes fair hair: Acerbus Morena writes, about 1164, that the emperor's brother had blond hair.^[5][4] It also served as a byname.^[2] British records also use it, uncertainly, for a light colour of cloth, and in 1238 for a rent payable in blanched silver.^[2]

English blond, from the late 15th century, came from Old French.^[6]

Timeline

• 1085–1086 – The Domesday Book has it as a byname (Rodbertus Blondus).^[7][2]
• before 1155 – A charter calls William Rufus Willelmus blundus.^[2]
• c. 1164 – Acerbus Morena uses it of blond hair.^[5][4]
• 1238 – An English record uses it for rent payable in blanched silver.^[2]
• late 15th century – English blond is borrowed from Old French.^[6]

Meanings

Adjective

1. (Medieval Latin) Blond, fair (of hair).^[5][2][1]
2. (Medieval Latin) Light-coloured.^[2]
3. (Medieval Latin) Payable in blanched silver.^[2]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l 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
3. ^ a b c du Cange, Charles du Fresne, et al. (1883–1887), Glossarium mediae et infimae latinitatis, augmented ed. by Léopold Favre, Niort: L. Favre
4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b c d Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
6. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
7. ^ a b The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin