Here's what we can say:
* Meaning: The word "blackout" implies a complete absence of light, which likely led to its use in various contexts:
* Electrical outages: The term "blackout" was used to describe power outages in the early 20th century.
* Wartime: During World War II, "blackout" referred to the dimming or extinguishing of lights to prevent enemy aircraft from seeing targets.
* Memory: The term "blackout" began to be used for memory loss in the mid-20th century, likely due to the association with darkness and the inability to "see" or remember events.
* Origin: "Blackout" is a combination of the words "black" and "out," which are both ancient English words with clear meanings.
The word "blackout" has likely been used in various contexts for centuries, and its specific origin is lost to time.