Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “blemishment” come from?

blemishment (English) comes from English blemish, from Middle English blemisshen, from Old French blemir, from Frankish blesmijan, from Frankish blasmi, from Proto-Germanic blasaz, from Proto-Indo-European bʰel-, from Proto-Indo-European bʰōl-.

blemishment (English): The state of being blemished; disgrace; damage

Definitions

  1. The state of being blemished; disgrace; damage

Ancestry of “blemishment”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishblemishA small flaw which spoils the appearance of...
2Middle Englishblemisshen—
3Old Frenchblemir—
4Frankishblesmijan—
5Frankishblasmipale
6Proto-Germanicblasazwhite, pale
7Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰel-to sound; to speak, roar, bark; shiny, white; to...
8Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰōl-—
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰōl- →