point-blank

the term 'point-blank' originates from 16th-century french archery and artillery terminology, specifically 'pointé à blanc', meaning 'aimed at the white'. the 'blank' referred to the white center of a practice target. the logic evolved from the literal act of aiming directly at the white bullseye from such a close range that the weapon's trajectory was flat and required no elevation. this concrete military sense of a direct, flat-trajectory shot was later extended metaphorically to describe any speech or action that is direct, blunt, and without subtlety or qualification.

Structure: point (aim) + blank (target) point (from old french 'point', from latin 'punctum' meaning a prick, dot, or moment; here it signifies aiming or directing). blank (from old french 'blanc' meaning white, pale, or shining; in this compound, it refers to the white center of a target).