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bloed

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Etymology and origin of the Dutch word bloed

Confidence
Established
Formation
Inherited
First attested
901–1000, Wachtendonck Psalms
Inherited from
Proto-Germanic *blōd via Middle Dutch, Old Dutch
Ultimate origin
Proto-Germanic *blōþą

Pronunciation

Forms

bloed n (uncountable, no diminutive)[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle Dutch bloet, inherited from Old Dutch bluot, inherited from Proto-West Germanic *blōd, inherited from Proto-Germanic *blōda- (“blood”).[2][1][3] The same word is Old Saxon blōd, Old High German bluot (modern German Blut), Old Frisian blōd, Old English blōd (modern English blood), Old Norse blóð and Gothic 𐌱𐌻𐍉𐌸 (blōþ), the Gothic form showing grammatical alternation.[2][4][3][5]

The word is found only in Germanic and its origin is unclear.[2][6] De Vries notes that it replaced older words such as Latin cruor and Ancient Greek αἷμα (haîma), and explains the renewal by taboo, as blood was surrounded by magical ideas.[6] Kroonen takes it as a neuter collective, formed either to Proto-Germanic *blōaną (“to bloom”), from the red colour (Middle Dutch also used the noun for blushing), or to Proto-Germanic *blēaną (“to blow”), in the sense “to gush”.[3][1] De Vries and De Tollenaere and Van Veen also think of a link with bloeien, which the EWN finds unlikely.[2][7][5] Kluge suggested a euphemism from Proto-Indo-European *bʰel- (“to swell”), and De Vries a root meaning “to swell up”, as “that which wells up”;[2][6][4] Franck and Van Wijk preferred a form meaning “the red one”, related to blauw.[2][6][4] Given its isolation the EWN thinks it most probably a word from a non-Indo-European substrate.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

The Wachtendonck Psalms of the 10th century have the dative bluode and the genitive plural bluodo.[2][8] Middle Dutch bloet is first recorded in 1236, and the Bernardus glossary of 1240 translates both Latin sanguis and cruor with the word.[2][9][5]

Semantic evolution

In Middle Dutch the word meant blood, and also complexion, lineage and family.[2] Blood was the bearer of qualities and moods: a text of 1287 says certain meat makes good blood and donkey meat bad blood, and Middle Dutch said uut heten bloede “in a fit of anger” and met coelen bloede “in cold blood”; the modern kwaad bloed zetten “to cause bitterness” continues this.[9][7] Vlees en bloed as the two parts of the bodily person is recorded in 1618.[10]

From phrases like een edel bloed “a man of noble blood” came een arm bloed “a poor man”, and the word then became masculine: de bloed “a wretch, a simpleton” is recorded from 1596, and the diminutive bloedje “a poor little child” from 1644.[10][11] As a prefix, bloed- means “very”: bloedarm “very poor” (1560), bloedjong (1823), bloedheet (1904), bloedlink “very dangerous” (1948).[2] The EWN thinks this use started from compounds like bloedrood (al bloet roet, 1287), perhaps with German influence.[2]

The proverb het bloed kruipt waar het niet gaan kan, that love between relatives always shows itself, was already medieval.[12] Blauw bloed “noble descent” translates Spanish sangre azul.[13] Through the oath bij Gods bloed, by which God and his blood were called to witness, the word entered Dutch swearing.[14] The word went into Sranan Tongo (brudu, from Dutch or English), Berbice Dutch (blutu), Negerhollands and Javindo, and Afrikaans has bloed.[15][1]

Timeline

  • 901–1000 – The Wachtendonck Psalms have the dative bluode.[2][8]
  • 1236 – Middle Dutch bloet is first recorded.[2][5]
  • 1240 – The Bernardus glossary translates sanguis and cruor.[9]
  • 1287 – Al bloet roet “all blood-red” is recorded.[2]
  • 1560 – Bloetarm “very poor” shows the intensifying prefix.[2]
  • 1596 – Bloed is used of a person, a poor wretch.[10]
  • 1644 – The diminutive bloeyken “poor little child” is recorded.[10]

Meanings

Noun

  1. blood, the red fluid circulating in the bodies of humans and higher animals: Hij gaf bloed voor de bloedbank.[16][17][1]
  2. lineage, descent: van koninklijken bloede.[18][2]
  3. (figurative) a grave consequence, a high price.[1]
  4. (dated) a person, especially a poor wretch: een arm bloed.[10][1]

Word family

  • bloeden
  • bloedig
  • bloederig
  • bloed-
  • bloedverwant
  • bloedzuiger
  • bloedarm
  • bloedbad
  • bloeddruk
  • bloedgroep
  • bloedvat
  • bloedworst
  • bloedhond
  • volbloed
  • koelbloedig

Usage notes

Bloed, zweet en tranen kosten is to demand the utmost effort.[17] In koelen bloede, “in cold blood”, keeps an old dative ending.[1][18]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Philippa, Marlies; Debrabandere, Frans; Quak, Arend; Schoonheim, Tanneke; Sijs, Nicoline van der (2003–2009), Etymologisch woordenboek van het Nederlands, 4 vols., Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press; online via etymologiebank.nl
  3. ^ a b c Kroonen, Guus (2013), Etymological Dictionary of Proto-Germanic, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 11, Leiden / Boston: Brill
  4. ^ a b c Franck, Johannes; Wijk, Nicolaas van (1912), Franck's Etymologisch woordenboek der Nederlandsche taal, 2nd ed., 's-Gravenhage: Nijhoff
  5. ^ a b c d Vries, Jan de; Tollenaere, Félicien de (2004), Etymologisch woordenboek: onze woorden, hun oorsprong en ontwikkeling, 23rd ed., Utrecht: Het Spectrum, p. 76
  6. ^ a b c d Vries, Jan de (1971), Nederlands etymologisch woordenboek, Leiden: Brill
  7. ^ a b Veen, P. A. F. van; Sijs, Nicoline van der (1997), Etymologisch woordenboek: de herkomst van onze woorden, 2nd ed., Utrecht / Antwerpen: Van Dale Lexicografie
  8. ^ a b Sijs, Nicoline van der (2001), Chronologisch woordenboek: de ouderdom en herkomst van onze woorden en betekenissen, Amsterdam / Antwerpen: Veen
  9. ^ a b c Pijnenburg, W. J. J., et al. (2001), Vroegmiddelnederlands woordenboek: woordenboek van het Nederlands van de dertiende eeuw in hoofdzaak op basis van het Corpus-Gysseling, Leiden: Instituut voor Nederlandse Lexicologie; gtb.ivdnt.org
  10. ^ a b c d e Vries, Matthias de; Winkel, L. A. te, et al. (1882–1998), Woordenboek der Nederlandsche Taal, 29 vols., 's-Gravenhage / Leiden: Nijhoff / Sijthoff / SDU; supplement 2001; gtb.ivdnt.org
  11. ^ Vercoullie, Jozef (1925), Beknopt etymologisch woordenboek der Nederlandsche taal, 3rd ed., 's-Gravenhage / Gent: Nijhoff / Van Rysselberghe & Rombaut
  12. ^ Stoett, F. A. (1923–1925), Nederlandsche spreekwoorden, spreekwijzen, uitdrukkingen en gezegden, 4th ed., 3 vols., Zutphen: Thieme
  13. ^ Sijs, Nicoline van der (2005), Groot leenwoordenboek, Utrecht / Antwerpen: Van Dale
  14. ^ Sterkenburg, P. G. J. van (2001), Vloeken: een cultuurbepaalde reactie op woede, irritatie en frustratie, 2nd ed., Den Haag: Sdu
  15. ^ Sijs, Nicoline van der (2010), Nederlandse woorden wereldwijd, Den Haag: Sdu; with additions from the Uitleenwoordenbank (2015)
  16. ^ Van Dale Groot woordenboek hedendaags Nederlands (2014), Utrecht / Antwerpen: Van Dale Uitgevers
  17. ^ a b Algemeen Nederlands Woordenboek (2009–), Instituut voor de Nederlandse Taal, Leiden; anw.ivdnt.org
  18. ^ a b WikiWoordenboek (Dutch Wiktionary), nl.wiktionary.org

Related etymologies

  • voor · also from Proto-Germanic
  • kunnen · also from Proto-Germanic
  • zullen · also from Proto-Germanic
  • weten · also from Proto-Germanic
  • willen · also from Proto-Germanic
  • als · also from Proto-Germanic
  • doen · also from Proto-Germanic
  • met · also from Proto-Germanic
Cite this entry

“Bloed.” Etymologically, 21 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/nl/bloed. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·