Etymology Map
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Blue

3 stages from Frankish to English.

Today it means the colour of a clear sky

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

1
Stage 1 of 3
blao
Frankish · ancient
"shining, blue"
a Frankish colour word, related to Old Norse 'blár'
2
Stage 2 of 3
bleu
Old French · medieval
"blue"
French re-lent it to English, reinforcing an Old English cognate
3
Stage 3 of 3
blue
English · 1300s
"blue"
'feeling blue' dates from the 1700s
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Read the full story

Blue’s story begins in Frankish: blao meant “shining, blue.” A Frankish colour word, related to Old Norse 'blár'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as bleu. French re-lent it to English, reinforcing an Old English cognate. It reached English by 1300s as blue. 'feeling blue' dates from the 1700s. Today, blue means the colour of a clear sky.