blond

Where does the word "blond" come from? It comes from Medieval Latin blundus, passing through Old French before entering English (1480s).

Blond’s story begins in Medieval Latin: blundus meant “yellow.” A Medieval Latin word, possibly Frankish. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as blond. 'blonde' keeps the French feminine form. It reached English by 1480s as blond. First recorded in the 1480s, then reborrowed from French in the 1600s; 'blond' for men and 'blonde' for women follows French gender. Today, blond means having fair or pale yellow hair.

1. Stage 1 · Medieval Latin · medieval blundus "yellow", a Medieval Latin word, possibly Frankish.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval blond "fair-haired", 'blonde' keeps the French feminine form.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1480s blond "fair", first recorded in the 1480s, then reborrowed from French in the 1600s; 'blond' for men and 'blonde' for women follows French gender.