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.

1

c. 1205.  Lay., 25380. Of Ethiope he brohte þa bleomen.

2

a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 236. Blac as a bloamon.

3

a. 1225.  St. Marher. (1862), 10. Muchele del blaccre then euer eni blamon.

4

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 2118 (Gött.). Indie … lijs mast into þe south þar þe blomen [v.r. blamen] mast er couth.

5

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].

6

a. 1400.  Octouian, 1406. The stede was broght out of stable: The bloman hym ladde with a cable.

7