point blank etymology

Etymology:

• Point: From the Old French "point," meaning "sharp end" or "dot."
• Blank: From the Old French "blanc," meaning "white" or "blank."

Meaning:

• "Point-blank" originally referred to shooting a firearm at a target so close that the projectile traveled in a straight line without dropping due to gravity.
• Figuratively, it came to mean "directly" or "without hesitation."

Origin:

The term "point-blank" originated in the 15th century as a military term describing the distance at which a projectile would travel in a straight line.

The distance was determined by placing a white square of paper (a "blank") at the target. The height of the paper was equal to the diameter of the projectile. If the projectile hit the paper, it was considered to be within point-blank range.

This method of determining range was common for muskets, which were inaccurate and had a short effective range. As firearms improved, the term "point-blank" gradually lost its literal meaning and took on its figurative sense.

Example Usage:

• "The assassin fired the gun point-blank at the victim."
• "He answered my question point-blank, without any hesitation."

point blank relate terms

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