Etymology Map
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Blanket

3 stages from Frankish to English.

Today it means a large piece of warm cloth used as a bed covering; covering all cases

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

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

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.