An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/blond

by Friedrich Kluge

blond, adj., ‘blonde, fair,’ from MidHG. blunt(d), ‘fair,’ which first appears when the Fr. influence began (about 1200 A.D.), and is undoubtedly of Fr. origin. Fr. blond, Ital. biondo, MidLat. blundus, give the impression that these words were borrowed from Teut., especially since other Teut. names of colours have been adopted by Rom. (comp. blau, blank, braun). The earlier periods of OTeut. have, however, no adj. blunda- The connection of MidLat. and Rom. blundo with blind (OIc. blunda) may be possible (comp. Lith. prý-blinde, ‘twilight’), especially as the meaning of the names of colours is variable.