'blemish' originates from Old French, specifically the word 'blemissier', where 'ble-' meant 'to make pale' and '-missier' meant 'to injure'.

'blemissier' transformed into the Middle English word 'blemisshen', and eventually became the modern English word 'blemish'.

Initially, it meant 'to make pale or injure', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'to spoil or damage'.