Blanch
/blæntʃ/noun
To make white or pale, often by scalding or boiling.
Did you know?In medieval alchemy, the process of 'blanching' was believed to purify and transmute base metals into silver, symbolizing spiritual enlightenment.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bʰleg-
“To shine or to burn, indicating brightness.”
Latin
Latin
blancus
“White or shiny, often associated with purity.”
Old French
Old French
blanchir
“To make white or to whiten, used in culinary and alchemical contexts.”
Middle English
Middle English
blanchen
“To make pale or white, often through scalding.”
Modern English
English
blanch
“To whiten or lighten, particularly in cooking.”