Obs. Forms: 4 blihant, -and, blehand, bleaunt, bleeaunt. [ad. OF. bliaut, -aud, bliat, earlier blialt; found also in other Romanic langs., Pr. blial, bliau, bliaut, blizaut, Sp., Pg. brial, med.L. blialdus, bliaudus, blisaudus, an article of dress, a tunic worn both by men and women often richly embroidered; also in MLG. bliant, blyant, MHG. blîalt, blîat a silk gold-stuff for clothes, bed-covers, etc. Of uncertain origin: see Diez and Mahn. The appearance of the n in the English and MLG. is unaccounted for. Bleaunt for *bliant, may be compared with ME. geaunt = giant.]
A kind of tunic or upper garment; also a rich stuff or fabric used for this garment.
c. 1314. Guy Warw. (Turnb.), 208. His blibant he curf, his schert also.
c. 1320. Sir Tristr., I. xxxviii. In o robe Tristrem was boun … Was of a blihand broun The richest that was wrought. Ibid., I. xli. In blehand was he cledde.
c. 1325. E. E. Allit. P., A. 163. A mayden … Blysnande whyt watz hyr bleaunt.
c. 1340. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 879. A mere mantyle … Of a broun bleeaunt enbrouded ful ryche.
a. 1400. Alexander (Stev.), 167. A blewe bleaunt obove brade him all over.
