▪ I.†blatchObs.Forms: 5 blacche, 6 blatche, blache.[ME.blacche, answering to anOE.*blæcce, not found, but pointing to anOTeut.*blakkjo- or *blakkjâ-,f.*blakkó- ‘black’: see black a., andcf.blackn., bleachn.2, bleck, and bletch.]Blacking. Hence blatch-pot, blacche-pot.a1500Metr.Voc.inWr.-Wülcker 628Attramentorium (blacchepot), sunt attromenta (blacche), sed atrum (blacke).
1519W. HormanVulg.81 b,Wrytters ynke shulde be fyner than blatche[lectius esset sutorio].
1552Huloet,Blache that shomakers vse Atramentum sutorium.
▪ II.†blatch,v.Obs.[f.prec.:cf.black v., bleach v.2, bletch v.]trans.To smear with blacking or other black substance.[c1205Lay.17700,Iblæcched he hæfede his licame swulc ismitte of cole.]
1587J. Harmartr.Beza'sSerm.195 (R.)No man can like to be smutted and blatched in his face.
1607Schol.Disc.agst.Antichr. ii. ix. 110It is with the enimies crosse that we are blatched.
