blate I. \ˈblāt\adjective Etymology: Middle English, probably from Old English blāt pale; akin to Old High German bleizza pallor, Old Slavic blědŭ pale, Greek phalos white — more at bald 1.chiefly Scotland: bashful, timid, shy < you are not blate — you will never lose fair lady for faint heart — Sir Walter Scott > 2.chiefly Scotland: dull, slow II. verb (-ed/-ing/-s) Etymology: by alter : bleat