Blacksmith
Black
What can we say about the word black? the color black? What is the connection between the color black and the word dark? What might the etymology of the word black tell us?
To consider such questions, look at the difference between Old English blac (bright, shining) and Old English bloec (meaning absolutely dark but not black). These words, seemingly opposite in meaning, come from the same Proto-Indo-European (PIE) root bhel (to shine, to flash, to burn). From this PIE root emerge two branches—one related to light, one related to dark.
On the one hand, the Online Etymological Dictionary states, “The same root [PIE bhel] produced the Old English [adjective] blac (bright, shining, glittering, pale; the connecting notions being perhaps, ‘fire’ (bright) and ‘burned’ (dark), or perhaps the absence of color.”
On the other hand, PIE bhel is also the root of Proto-Germanic blakaz (burned) which is the source of Old Norse blakkr (dark), Old High German (OHG) blah (black), Swedish black (ink), Dutch blaken (to burn), and Old English bloec (absolutely dark, absorbing all light).
So where does the English word black come from? Originally, the English word black has its origins in Old High German which has two words for black: swartz (dull black) and blach (luminous black), both from PIE bhel (shining). Again, we see the theme of light and dark, this time in relation to the word black. At first, the Old English word for black was sweart from OHG swartz. However, Old English sweart evolved to become the word swarthy (a dark color or complexion).
And, as sweart became swarthy, the Old English word bloec, originally meaning dark and absorbing all light, evolved to become the word for the color black. Remember that bloec comes from Proto-Germanic words rooted in PIE bhel (to shine, to flash to burn). Yet again we see the theme of light and dark in relation to black.
In brief, in terms of light (blac) and dark (bloec), it would seem that you can’t talk about black without talking of both light and dark.
Smith
The word smith comes from the PIE root smi (to cut, to work with a sharp instrument; from which comes Greek smile meaning knife or chisel). From this root comes Proto-Germanic smithaz (skilled worker), a word which is the source of Old Saxon smith, Old Norse smior, Danish smed, Old Frisian smith, Old High German smid, and German Schmied. The Old English word smid meant a blacksmith, armorer, or one who works in metal (jewelers were also considered blacksmiths as they also worked in metal).
More generally, Old English smid was also used to describe any handicrafts person or practitioner of skilled manual arts. The word Smith has been used as a surname at least since 975 CE.
Blacksmith
The word blacksmith comes to English in the late 15th century (in the mid-13th century ‘Blacksmith’ was a surname) meaning a smith who works in iron. Blacksmiths worked with heated heavy metals as opposed to those who beat gold, tin, or pewter (the material of a whitesmith).
What can we say about the word black? the color black? What is the connection between the color black and the word dark? What might the etymology of the word black tell us?
To consider such questions, look at the difference between Old English blac (bright, shining) and Old English bloec (meaning absolutely dark but not black). These words, seemingly opposite in meaning, come from the same Proto-Indo-European (PIE) root bhel (to shine, to flash, to burn). From this PIE root emerge two branches—one related to light, one related to dark.
On the one hand, the Online Etymological Dictionary states, “The same root [PIE bhel] produced the Old English [adjective] blac (bright, shining, glittering, pale; the connecting notions being perhaps, ‘fire’ (bright) and ‘burned’ (dark), or perhaps the absence of color.”
On the other hand, PIE bhel is also the root of Proto-Germanic blakaz (burned) which is the source of Old Norse blakkr (dark), Old High German (OHG) blah (black), Swedish black (ink), Dutch blaken (to burn), and Old English bloec (absolutely dark, absorbing all light).
So where does the English word black come from? Originally, the English word black has its origins in Old High German which has two words for black: swartz (dull black) and blach (luminous black), both from PIE bhel (shining). Again, we see the theme of light and dark, this time in relation to the word black. At first, the Old English word for black was sweart from OHG swartz. However, Old English sweart evolved to become the word swarthy (a dark color or complexion).
And, as sweart became swarthy, the Old English word bloec, originally meaning dark and absorbing all light, evolved to become the word for the color black. Remember that bloec comes from Proto-Germanic words rooted in PIE bhel (to shine, to flash to burn). Yet again we see the theme of light and dark in relation to black.
In brief, in terms of light (blac) and dark (bloec), it would seem that you can’t talk about black without talking of both light and dark.
Smith
The word smith comes from the PIE root smi (to cut, to work with a sharp instrument; from which comes Greek smile meaning knife or chisel). From this root comes Proto-Germanic smithaz (skilled worker), a word which is the source of Old Saxon smith, Old Norse smior, Danish smed, Old Frisian smith, Old High German smid, and German Schmied. The Old English word smid meant a blacksmith, armorer, or one who works in metal (jewelers were also considered blacksmiths as they also worked in metal).
More generally, Old English smid was also used to describe any handicrafts person or practitioner of skilled manual arts. The word Smith has been used as a surname at least since 975 CE.
Blacksmith
The word blacksmith comes to English in the late 15th century (in the mid-13th century ‘Blacksmith’ was a surname) meaning a smith who works in iron. Blacksmiths worked with heated heavy metals as opposed to those who beat gold, tin, or pewter (the material of a whitesmith).
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