c.1300, in northern writers, from O.E. (Mercian) blondan or O.N. blanda "to mix," or a combination of both; perhaps from P.Gmc. *blandjan "to blind," via a connecting notion of "to make cloudy," from PIE base *bhel- (1) "to shine, flash, burn" (see
bleach). Cf. Lith. blandus