| blende | <chemical> A mineral, called also sphalerite, and by miners mock lead, false galena, and black-jack. It is a zinc sulphide, but often contains some iron. Its colour is usually yellow, brown, or black, and its luster resinous. A general term for some minerals, chiefly metallic sulphides which have a somewhat brilliant but nonmetallic luster. Origin: G, fr. Blenden to blind, dazzle, deceive, fr. Blind blind. So called either in allusion to its dazzling luster; or (Dana) because, though often resembling galena, it yields no lead. Cf. Sphalerite. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| blending inheritance | Galton's term for inheritance in which no component is conspicuous or obtrusive. (05 Mar 2000) |