An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/blaß

by Friedrich Kluge

blaß, adjective, ‘pale, faint (in colour),’ from Middle High German blas, ‘bald,’ figuratively ‘weak, trifling’; the earlier signification is ‘shining’ (compare Glaze, from glänzen); allied to Old High German blas, ‘whitish.’ Hence by mutation Blässe, feminine, ‘a white spot on the forehead,’ Old Icelandic bles (earlier Danish blis), Middle Low German blare (but blasenhengst, ‘horse with a blaze’), Dutch blaar, ‘cow with a blaze.’ With the meaning ‘shining,’ Anglo-Saxon blase, English blaze, Middle High German blas, neuter, ‘a torch,’ are connected.