An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/bald

by Friedrich Kluge

bald, adv., ‘soon, nearly, quickly,’ based upon an OTeut. adj. which signified ‘quick, bold, brave’; Goth. balþs, ‘bold,’ preserved only in derivs., AS. beald (with the change of þ after l to d, comp. Wald, falten), E. bold, OIc. ballr, ‘bold, impudent, audacious’; also OIc. baldr, AS. bealdor, ‘prince,’ whence the name of the god Balder. In HG. the meaning tended towards ‘bold, quick’; OHG. and OLG. bald, MidHG. balt (gen. baldes). ‘bold, zealous, quick’; comp. Ital. baldo, ‘bold.’ The development of meaning of the OHG. adv. baldo, MidHG. balde, is thus ‘boldly, — quickly, — immediately.’ The abstract Bälde, which is connected with it, meant lit. ‘boldness,’ like Goth. balþei and OHG. baldî; MidHG. belde, ‘audacity’; the meaning of the ModHG. subst. is based immediately on the adv. To this word are allied proper names like Balduin, as well as Fr. Baudouin (applied to the ass).