Emily Dickinson Lexicon

BLANK, a. [Fr. blanc; It. bianco; Sp. blanco; D. and Ger. blank; Dan. blank, shining; Sw. blanck, white, shining; blankia, to shine. See Bleach.]

1. Void; empty; consequently white; as, a blank paper.
2. White or pale; as, the blank moon. – Milton.
3. Pale from fear or terror; hence, confused; confounded; dispirited; dejected. Adam … astonished stood, and blank. – Milton.
4. Without rhyme; as, blank verse, verse in which rhyme is wanting.
5. Pure; entire; complete. – Beddoes.
6. Not containing balls or bullets; as, blank cartridges. This word is applied to various other objects, usually in the sense of destitution, emptiness; as, a blank line; a blank space, in a book, &c.