blee

Etymology

Came into English via Middle English blee, ble, which developed from Old English blēo, bleoh (“color, hue; complexion, form”), itself from Proto-West Germanic *blīu (“color, blee”). It is cognate with Scots ble, blee, blie (“color, complexion”), Old Frisian blī, blie (“color, hue; complexion”) (which gave North Frisian bläy and Saterland Frisian Bläier), and Middle Dutch blie, blye (“color”). It is a doublet of bly.