Obs. Forms: 1 blanca, 3 blank, 3–6 blonk. [OE. blanca, blǫnca, def. form of *blanc = OHG. blanch white (cf. OHG. blanc ros white horse, and the neut. adj. planchaz, planchiz, used subst. in same sense), meaning properly ‘white horse,’ but used as a poetic synonym for ‘horse’ generally. Cf. ON. blakkr poet. for a horse (Vigf.).] Poetic word for ‘horse’; steed.
a. 1000. Beowulf, 1716. Beornas on blancum.
c. 1205. Lay., 5862. Lihteð of eowre blanken [1250 hors]. Ibid., 13512. Fortiger hæhte his sweines sadeli his blonken [1250 stedes].
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 3326. Þe nobul blonk þat him bar.
c. 1440. Gaw. & Gologr., ii. 19 (Jam.). Bery broune wes the blonk.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot., II. 478. Mony bald man of his blonk wes borne.
