blanket

Where does the word "blanket" come from? It comes from Frankish blank, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

Blanket’s story begins in Frankish: blank meant “white, bright.” A Germanic word for shining or white, also the source of 'blank'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as blanquette. Undyed white woollen cloth. It reached English by 1300s as blanket. The adjective 'blanket', covering everything, dates from the 1800s. Today, blanket means a large piece of warm cloth used as a bed covering; covering all cases.

1. Stage 1 · Frankish · ancient blank "white, bright", a Germanic word for shining or white, also the source of 'blank'.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval blanquette "white woollen cloth", undyed white woollen cloth.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s blanket "a woollen bed covering", the adjective 'blanket', covering everything, dates from the 1800s.