The word “black” is commonly used to describe the darkest color, which absorbs nearly all light in the visible spectrum. Black is also often associated with darkness, mystery, and elegance. But where did this ubiquitous word come from? What is the origin and etymology of the word “black”?
In this article, we will explore the linguistic history of “black” by looking at its Proto-Indo-European roots, its evolution in Proto-Germanic, Old English, Middle English, and Modern English. We will examine how the meaning and connotations of “black” have shifted over time. Understanding the etymology provides fascinating insight into how color terms develop within a language community.
Proto-Indo-European Origin
The earliest known root of “black” traces back thousands of years to the Proto-Indo-European language, the ancestor of most languages in Europe and South Asia. In Proto-Indo-European, there were two words for black colors:
* *h2éngw-: This root gave rise to words indicating dark colors like black, brown, and gray. It may have originally referred to charcoal gray.
* *h1regw-: This root referred to black, dark, or dirty colors.
The two roots *h2éngw- and *h1regw- eventually merged in the daughter languages into words meaning simply “black.”
Germanic Origins
In Proto-Germanic, the parent language of the Germanic family, the main word for “black” was *blakkaz. This was derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *bhleg-, meaning “to burn” or “to shine” (1). The original meaning may have referred to something burnt or charred black.
The Proto-Germanic *blakkaz is the ancestor of the English word “black” as well as related words in other Germanic languages:
| Language | Word for “Black” |
|---|---|
| Old English | blæc |
| Old Norse | blakkr |
| Old High German | blach |
| Gothic | blaks |
So the Proto-Germanic root *blakkaz gave rise to the ancestral “black” words found throughout the Germanic languages.
Black in Old English
In Old English, the main word for the color black was “blæc.” It was derived from the Proto-Germanic *blakkaz.
“Blæc” was used both as an adjective meaning “black” or “dark” as well as a noun simply meaning “black” or “blackness.” Here are some examples of Old English uses (2):
– Se blaca mann (The black man)
– Blacum nihtum (On black nights)
– Hi beþ blace (They are black)
Besides “blæc,” Old English also had other words that could mean dark colors like “sweart” (black, swarthy), “fealo” (fallow, dark brown), and “dun” (dun, grayish brown). But “blæc” was the primary term for black.
Black in Middle English
In Middle English, following the Norman conquest of 1066, the word “black” gained increasing influences from Anglo-Norman French.
The Old English “blæc” evolved into the Middle English “blaak.” But during this period, the Anglo-Norman French word “noir” (meaning black) became widely used by the aristocracy after the Normans introduced it to England.
But by the 14th century, the native English word reasserted dominance again. “Black” became the standard term over “noir” (3). Chaucer uses “blaak” extensively in his writings:
– “And lyk a griselich feend he gan to prikke as he were wood his blake stede” (And like a gruesome fiend he began to spur on his black steed as if he were mad)
So by Middle English, “black” had emerged as the primary native term over the French term “noir.”
Black in Modern English
In Modern English, “black” retains its status as the most common word referring to the darkest color in the spectrum. The word maintains Old English roots dating back over 1,000 years.
But over centuries of use in English, the connotations and symbolic meanings of “black” have evolved significantly beyond just a color term. “Black” can evoke deeper meaning related to darkness, mystery, power, elegance, and more.
Here are some examples of the figurative use of “black” in Modern English:
– “She has a black belt in karate.”
– “He’s just trying to paint it black.”
– “The suspect wore all black.”
– “It was a black day for the economy.”
So in summary, while “black” has retained its literal meaning referring to a dark color, the word has also accumulated more diverse figurative and symbolic senses in Modern English.
Conclusion
The etymology of “black” has taken it through quite a linguistic journey:
– From its Proto-Indo-European roots meaning “to burn”
– To Germanic origins as *blakkaz
– Old English blæc
– Competition with Anglo-Norman noir in Middle English
– And finally its emergence as the common Modern English word “black.”
This evolution gives us insight into how color terms develop within a language, influenced by contact with other languages and cultures over time. The story of “black” illustrates how even simple words can accumulate rich histories and meanings.
References
1. Harper, Douglas. “black (adj.)”. Online Etymology Dictionary. https://www.etymonline.com/word/black
2. “Black” in Bosworth, J. and Toller, T. N. An Anglo-Saxon Dictionary. Clarendon Press, 1898.
3. “noir | Origin and meaning of noir by Online Etymology Dictionary” https://www.etymonline.com/word/noir
