Where does “blank” come from?

blank (Afrikaans) comes from Dutch blank, from Middle Dutch blanc, from Old Dutch blank, from Proto-Germanic blankaz, from Proto-Indo-European bhleg- — to shine, white; to shine, burn, scorch.

blank (Afrikaans): white; White; Caucasian

Definitions

  1. white; White; Caucasian

Ancestry of “blank”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Dutchblankwhite, pale; white
2Middle Dutchblanc—
3Old Dutchblank—
4Proto-Germanicblankazbright, shining, white, gleaming, blinding
5Proto-Indo-Europeanbhleg-to shine, white; to shine, burn, scorch
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bhleg- →Every word from Proto-Germanic blankaz →Every word from Old Dutch blank →