Blanc
/blɑ̃/noun
A French word meaning white; also used as a surname and in place names.
Did you know?French blanc comes from a Germanic root meaning “shining” or “white,” the same ancient color-source behind several everyday English words.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bhel-
“to shine, flash, or be bright white”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*blankaz
“shining, gleaming, white”
Old High German
OHG
blanc
“white, shining”
Old French
OF
blanc
“white; pale; blank”
Modern French
French
blanc
“white”
Modern English
English
blank
“empty, unmarked; also a white space”