black
Old Englishthe darkest color, absence of light
About This Root
From Old English blaec (black, dark), from Proto-Germanic *blakaz. Forms compound words around darkness and hidden/negative associations — blackboard (dark writing surface), blacksmith (worker of dark metal/iron), blackmail (originally 'black rent', an extortion payment), and blackball (to exclude by casting a black voting ball).
Associated Words · 5
black
To make black; to blacken; The colour/color perceived in the absence of light, but also when no light is reflected, but rather absorbed; (of an object) Absorbing all light and reflecting none; dark and hueless
blackboard
A large dark surface written on with chalk
blacksmith
A person who forges and shapes iron objects
blackmail
To extort someone using threats; the act of such extortion
blackball
To vote against or exclude someone; a rejection vote