An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/bleichen

by Friedrich Kluge

bleichen, vb., ‘to lose colour,’ erbleichen, ‘to grow pale,’ from MidHG. blîchen, ‘to shine, blush,’ OHG. blîhhan; comp. AS. blîcan, MidE. blîken, ‘to turn pale’; OIc. blíkja, ‘to appear, shine, lighten.’ The i root of Slav. bliskati, ‘to sparkle’ (for *bligskati), blěskŭ, ‘splendour,’ Lith. blaivýtis, ‘to clear up,’ is more closely connected with the word than the e root in φλέγω, ‘to burn, flame.’ The pre-Teut. form of the root was perhaps bhlig, meaning ‘lustre’ (comp. also Blech, bleich; further OHG. blick, see Blitz). —