† ˈbloman Obs.
Also 3 bleo-, bloa-, blamon, 4–6 blooman.
[f. blo a. + man: corresp. to and perh. ad. ON. blámaðr in same sense. The northern form was blamon, a later literary Eng. form blueman. Hence mod.Welsh blowmon, blewmon Negro.]
A black man, Negro; a blackamoor.
| c 1205 Lay. 25380 Of Ethiope he brohte þa bleomen. a 1225 Ancr. R. 236 Blac as a bloamon. a 1225 St. Marher. (1862) 10 Muchele del blaccre then euer eni blamon. a 1300 Cursor M. 2118 (Gött.) Indie..lijs mast into þe south þar þe blomen [v.r. blamen] mast er couth. 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. iii. xxiv. (1495) 73 Ethyopia, bloo men londe. Ibid. viii. xxii, Þe londe of blo men [1535 bloo men; 1582 bliew men]. a 1400 Octouian 1406 The stede was broght out of stable: The bloman hym ladde with a cable. |