An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Blatter

by Friedrich Kluge

Blatter, f., ‘pock, pustule,’ from MidHG. blâtere, f., ‘bladder, pock,’ OHG. blâttara, f., ‘bladder’; comp. Du. blaar, AS. blœ̂dre, E. bladder. The Goth. form would be *blêdrô (or bladrô? see Natter), with drô- as a suffix, corresponding to Gr. τρα (see Ader, Natter); for blê as a root syllable see blasen, blähen.