blanket
UK[ˈblæŋkɪt]US[ˈblæŋkɪt]
n
A large piece of cloth, often soft and warm, used for covering oneself, especially in bed.
n
A thick layer or covering of something.
v
To cover something completely with a layer of something.
Etymology
The word 'blanket' originates from the Old French 'blanquette', a diminutive form of 'blanc', meaning 'white'. This, in turn, derives from Late Latin 'blancus', meaning 'white'. The term originally referred to a type of undyed, white woollen cloth used for clothing. Over time, its meaning shifted from the material itself to the specific article made from it—a soft, warm bed covering. The verb sense, meaning 'to cover completely', developed later from the idea of a blanket covering a bed.
Analysis
The word 'blanket' is a simplex word derived from a single root. It entered English as a loanword from Old French.
Examples
She pulled the blanket up to her chin on the cold winter night.
A blanket of snow covered the quiet village.
The report did not blanket all the issues raised during the investigation.