- blemish (v.)
- early 14c., from O.Fr. blemiss- "to turn pale," extended stem of blemir, blesmir "to make pale; stain, discolor," also "to injure" (13c., Mod.Fr. blêmir), probably from Frankish *blesmjan "to cause to turn pale," from P.Gmc. *blas "shining, white," from PIE base *bhel- (1) "to shine, flash, burn" (see bleach). The noun is first recorded 1520s.