blad

Blad is a word found in several Germanic languages with related meanings connected to flat, leaf-like surfaces. In Dutch, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, and Afrikaans, blad commonly denotes a leaf of a plant, a sheet of paper, or a page in a book. In German, the cognate Blatt serves the same core senses, and these terms are linked by a common Proto-Germanic origin.

Etymology and cognates: The term is derived from a Proto-Germanic root, reconstructed as *bladą, which refers to a flat, thin surface. This root gave rise to related forms in related languages, such as Dutch blad, German Blatt, and the Scandinavian equivalents, all sharing the general sense of a leaf, sheet, or page. Over time, regional usage has specialized the word to various concrete meanings within each language, while preserving the core concept of a thin, flat surface.

Uses and contexts: Blad appears mainly in everyday references to natural or printed surfaces. It is used for plant leaves, individual sheets of material, and pages within books or documents. In compound terms, blad can contribute to words describing flat surfaces or flat components, including botanical, manufacturing, or literary contexts. It also occurs as a surname in some cultures, and may appear in place names or organizational titles where linguistic heritage is retained.

See also: Related Germanic terms such as Blatt (German) and blad (Danish/Norwegian/Swedish) illustrate the shared lineage across languages. The concept remains a common, basic element in describing the physical surfaces that constitute leaves, pages, and similar flat forms.