'bald' originates from Old English, specifically the word 'bald' (or early forms like 'beald'), where it referred to a white patch or bare spot; the precise older root is uncertain but is Germanic in origin.

'bald' changed from Old English forms (such as 'bald'/'beald') into Middle English 'bald' and eventually became the modern English word 'bald'.

Initially, related senses included 'white patch' or 'bare area' and sometimes 'bold'; over time it specialized to mean 'lacking hair' or 'bare (surface)'.