Emily Dickinson Lexicon

BLANCH, v.t. [Fr. blanchir; It. bianchire, the l suppressed as in blame; Sp. blanquear; Port. branquear, l changed into r; Eng. blank. See Bleach.]

1. To whiten; to take out the color, and make white; to obliterate. – Dryden.
2. To slur; to balk; to pass over; that is, to avoid; to make empty. [Obs.] – Bacon.
3. To strip or peel; as, to blanch almonds. – Wiseman.