Also 7 (rare) blea. [OE. blǽʓe (wk. fem.) is cogn. w. Ger. blei(h)e, MDu. bleie, mod.Du. blei:—Teut. *blaijôn. Franck thinks it may be derived from the same root as Ger. blei lead, and OE. bléo, BLEE, complexion.] The name of a small fish, the bleak.

1

c. 1000.  Ælfric, Gloss., in Wr.-Wülcker, Voc., 180. Gobio, blæʓe.

2

1611.  Cotgr., Able, a blay, or bleake, fish.

3

1720.  Stow’s Surv. (ed. Strype, 1754), II. V. xxvii. 479/2. No such person shall within the said bounds or limits fleet with any Blay net.

4

1787.  Best, Angling (ed. 2), 4. Alburnus, the Bleak or Bley.

5

1822.  Imison, Sc. & Art, II. 336. The blay, or bleak fish which is very common in the rivers near London.

6

1849.  Sidonia Sorc., II. 47. We have taken bley: the nets are all loaded.

7