▪ I. blite Herb.
(blaɪt, ? also blɪt)
Also 6 blete, bleit, blyte, blittes, 6–7 bleet, (8–9 blight), 7–9 blit.
[ad. L. blitum orache, spinach, a. Gr. βλίτον ‘perh. strawberry blite, or amaranth blite’.]
Book-name for various plants of the family Chenopodiaceæ: esp. Wild Spinach (C. Bonus-Henricus), Amaranthus blitum, various species of Atriplex, and the genus Blitum (strawberry blite). Formerly also for Garden Spinach.
| c 1420 Pallad. on Husb. iv. 291 Iche erthe ywrought nowe blite wol multiplie. 1551 Turner Herbal (1568) i. F vi b, It may be called in englyshe a blyte or a blete. 1586 Cogan Haven Health lxxxiv. (1636) 87 Bleet is used for a Pot⁓hearbe among others. 1601 Holland Pliny II. 76 Bleets seeme to be dull, vnsauorie and foolish Woorts, hauing no tast nor quicknesse at all. 1727 Bradley Fam. Dict. s.v. Abscess, Give 'em Lettice or Blites chopped small. 1796 C. Marshall Garden. xix. (1813) 350 Mulberry blight, or more properly blite..whose fruit resembles a red unripe mulberry. 1853 A. Soyer Pantroph. 68 Blit was eaten boiled, when nothing better was to be had. |
▪ II. blite
obs. form of blight.