Etymology The "black" in "blacksmith" refers to the black firescale, a layer of oxides that forms on the surface of the metal during heating. The origin of smith is the Old English word meaning "blacksmith", originating from the Proto-Germanic *smiþaz meaning "skilled worker".
Etymology The "blac,k" in "blacksmith" refers to the black firescale, a layer of oxides that forms on the surface of the metal during heating. The origin of smith is the Old English word meaning "blacksmith" originating from the Proto-Germanic *smiþaz meaning "skilled worker".