[f. Fr. étioler (see -ATE3 6), of dialectal origin, from Norm. (s’)étieuler to grow into haulm, f. éteule, OF. esteule, esteulle:—L. stipula straw.]
1. trans. To render (a plant) pale or colorless by excluding the light from it; to blanch.
1791. E. Darwin, Bot. Gard., I. 45, note. Celery blanched or etiolated for the table by excluding the light from it.
1822. Imison, Sc. & Art, II. 34. Plants that grow in darkness are pale and without colour, and … are said to be etiolated, or blanched.
1833. Whewell, Astron. (Bridgew. Treat.), I. xiii. 95. Celery, is in this manner blanched, or etiolated.
1879. Syd. Soc. Lex., s.v. Albino, No chlorophyll is formed, and they [Albino plants] are said to be etiolated.
2. transf. To give a pale and sickly hue to (a human being or his skin).
1842. Prichard, Nat. Hist. Man, 78. The skin is also white, or etiolated.
1864. R. F. Burton, Dahome, II. 66, note. We may etiolate them [females], as in New England.
3. fig. (See next, ppl. a.)
4. intr. To become white or whiter; to blanch; to be whitened by exclusion of sunlight, as plants.
1828. in Webster; and in mod. Dicts.
