Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “blush” come from?

Blush comes from Middle English blusshen, Old English blysċan, Proto-Germanic blaskijaną and blasǭ, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European bʰleh₃- and bʰel-, roots associated with shining or gleaming.

blush (English): An act of blushing; a red glow on the face caused...

Definitions

  1. An act of blushing; a red glow on the face caused...

Ancestry of “blush”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishblusshen—
2Old Englishblysċanto be red; shine
3Proto-Germanicblaskijaną—
4Proto-Germanicblasǭtorch; burning candle; torch
5Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰel-to sound; to speak, roar, bark; shiny, white; to...
6Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰōl-—

Words derived from “blush”

  • blushing
  • unblushing
  • unblushingly
  • blushingly
  • blusher
  • blushful
  • blushless
  • ablush
  • blushest
  • blushy
  • blushfully
  • blusheth
  • blushworthy
  • outblush
  • blushfulness
  • blushlessly
  • blushlike
  • antiblushing
  • antiblush
  • sunblush
  • blushet
  • blush
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰōl- →