[A variant of BLANCH v.1 (The confusion is partly phonetic, as in BLANCH, BLENCH a.; partly of sense, since, with fear, the cheeks blanch, the eyes blench.)]
1. intr. To become pale.
1813. Hogg, Queen’s Wake, 26. Where the vexed rubies blench in death, Beneath yon lips and balmy breath.
1840. Barham, Ingol. Leg., 286. That little foot page he blenched with fear.
2. trans. To whiten, make pale. rare.
1839. Bailey, Festus (ed. 3), 16/1. The northern tribes Whom ceaseless snows and starry winters blench.
Blench v.3, obs. variant of BLEMISH q.v.
