- blank
- early 13c., from O.Fr. blanc "white, shining," from Frankish *blank "white, gleaming," of W.Gmc. origin (cf. O.N. blakkr, O.E. blanca "white horse;" O.H.G. blanc, blanch; Ger. blank "shining, bright"), from P.Gmc. *blangkaz "to shine, dazzle," from PIE base *bhel- (1) "to shine, flash, burn" (see bleach). Originally "colorless," meaning "having empty spaces" evolved c.1400. Sense of "void of expression" (a blank look) is from 1550s. The noun in the sense of "empty space" (in a document, etc.) is from c.1570.