blush

blush · noun, verb¹

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*bʰel-
2. Proto-Germanic · inherited from*bluskijaną
3. Proto-Germanic · derived from*blaskijaną
4. Old English · inherited fromblysċan“to be red; shine”
5. Middle English · inherited fromblusshen
6. English todayblush

From Middle English blusshen, bluschen, blusschen, blisshen, from Old English blysċan (“to be red; shine”), perhaps from Proto-Germanic *blaskijaną, from *blasǭ (“burning candle; torch”) or alternatively from Proto-Germanic *bluskijaną, from *blusjǭ (“torch”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰel-. Cognate with Middle Low German blöschen (“to blush”). Compare also Old English blysian (“to burn; blaze”), Dutch blozen (“to blush”), Danish blusse (“to blush”), Old Norse blys (“torch”), Danish blus (“blaze”).

blush · noun²

Unknown; attested in the late 15th century.

Words from the same roots