blende

noun

ˈblend

: sphalerite

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from German (in compound Zinkblende), derivative of blenden "to blind, dazzle," going back to Old High German blentan, going back to West Germanic *blandjan, weak verb derivative corresponding to *blanda- "to mix, mingle," probably originally "to make murky, unclear" (see blend entry 1), whence also Old English blendan "to blind," Old Frisian blenda, Middle Dutch blenden

Note: The mineral was so called because its lustrous crystals "dazzled" German miners into thinking it was galena, with which it often occurred, though smelting it produced neither lead nor zinc. See also etymology note at sphalerite.

First Known Use

1728, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of blende was in 1728

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