An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/bleich

by Friedrich Kluge

bleich, adj., ‘pale, wan,’ from the equiv. MidHG. bleich, OHG. bleih; comp. AS. blâc, blœ̂ce, E. bleak, Du. bleek, OIc. bleikr, ‘pale,’ from the root blik appearing in bleichen. Derivatives: ModHG. Bleiche, f., ‘bleaching, bleaching-yard, wan appearance’; bleichen, ‘to bleach, turn pale.’