† blinkn.1
Obsolete.
1. A trick, stratagem; = blench n.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > [noun] > a trick, deception
wrenchc888
swikec893
braida1000
craftOE
wile1154
crookc1175
trokingc1175
guile?c1225
hocket1276
blink1303
errorc1320
guileryc1330
sleightc1340
knackc1369
deceitc1380
japec1380
gaudc1386
syllogism1387
mazec1390
mowa1393
train?a1400
trantc1400
abusionc1405
creekc1405
trickc1412
trayc1430
lirtc1440
quaint?a1450
touch1481
pawka1522
false point?1528
practice1533
crink1534
flim-flamc1538
bobc1540
fetcha1547
abuse1551
block1553
wrinklec1555
far-fetch?a1562
blirre1570
slampant1577
ruse1581
forgery1582
crank1588
plait1589
crossbite1591
cozenage1592
lock1598
quiblin1605
foist1607
junt1608
firk1611
overreach?1615
fob1622
ludification1623
knick-knacka1625
flam1632
dodge1638
gimcrack1639
fourbe1654
juggle1664
strategy1672
jilt1683
disingenuity1691
fun1699
jugglementa1708
spring1753
shavie1767
rig?1775
deception1794
Yorkshire bite1795
fakement1811
fake1829
practical1833
deceptivity1843
tread-behind1844
fly1861
schlenter1864
Sinonism1864
racket1869
have1885
ficelle1890
wheeze1903
fast one1912
roughie1914
spun-yarn trick1916
fastie1931
phoney baloney1933
fake-out1955
okey-doke1964
mind-fuck1971
1303 R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne 4185 He shal þynke or to do þe a wykkede blynke.
2. plural. Boughs thrown to turn aside deer from their course; also, feathers, etc. on a thread to scare birds. Cf. blencher n.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > fear > quality of inspiring fear > causing physical symptoms > [noun] > scarecrow or device for scaring birds
buga1425
scarlec1440
scare1530
blencher1531
shail1531
fray-boggard1535
malkinc1565
clacket1594
bogle-bo1603
scarecrow1606
blinks1611
clap-mill1613
shaw-fowl1621
dudman1670
hobidy-booby?1710
cherry-clapper1763
flay-crake1788
potato-bogle1815
cherry-clack1824
feather-piea1825
flay-crow1824
gally-baggar1825
gally-crow1825
bogle1830
deadman1839
hodmandod1881
scarer1930
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Brisees, boughes..left in the view of a deere, or cast ouerthwart the way to hinder his running..Our wood-men call them, Blinkes.
1611 G. Markham Countrey Contentm. (1668) i. xi. 59 They are like blinks, which will ever chase your game from you.
1625 G. Markham Farewell to Husb. 96 The nearer that these Blinkes..come to the ground..the better it is, lest the fowle finding a way to creep vnder them, begin not to respect them.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1887; most recently modified version published online March 2021).
blinkn.2
/blɪŋk/, U.S. /blɪŋk/ 1.
a. A sudden or momentary gleam of light from the sun, a fire, etc.; a slight flash; a peep of light; a twinkling gleam, as of the stars; a gleam of sunshine between showers: also poetic ‘glimmer’.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > light emitted in particular manner > [noun] > gleam, glimmer, or flicker
blenka1400
blushc1400
gleamc1440
glance?a1513
glinta1542
glish1570
glimpse1603
glimmera1616
glimble1658
blink1717
glent1728
shimmer1821
glisk1824
flicker1849
glist1864
styme1888
1717 Protest. Mercury 5 July 6 A terrible Fire..caus'd.. by a Blink of Fire that issued from some adjoining Chimney, and lodg'd in the Thatch.
1818 W. Scott Heart of Mid-Lothian xi, in Tales of my Landlord 2nd Ser. I. 312 Creep out of their holes, like blue-bottles in a blink of sunshine.
1833 W. Wordsworth Sonn. vii Not a blink Of light was there.
1834 R. Mudie Feathered Tribes Brit. Islands I. 322 The 'blink' of reddish orange displayed by the flirt of the tail.
1855 R. Browning Statue & Bust in Men & Women I. 159 In a bed-chamber by a taper's blink.
Thesaurus »
b. figurative. A ‘glimmer’ or ‘spark’ of anything good.
c. A brief gleam of mental sunshine.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > [noun] > a brief time of pleasure
blinka1752
the mind > emotion > pleasure > joy, gladness, or delight > [noun] > day or time of joy
blinka1752
sun time1844
1303 R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne 4449 Þe leste þoghte..Þat of godenesse hadde any blynke.
a1732 T. Boston Memoirs (1776) vii. 132 I have sometimes had great joy in some blinks of it [sc. Christ's face].
a1752 R. Erskine in C. H. Spurgeon Treasury of David (1874) IV. Ps. ci I will sing of my blinks and of my showers.
1833 M. Scott Tom Cringle's Log II. viii. 383 I shall always bless Heaven for my fair Blinks.
d. on the blink: on the point of becoming extinguished; in a bad state, out of order. slang (originally U.S.).
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > uselessness > useless [phrase] > unserviceable
out of order1530
out of commission1533
out of tune1638
on the blink1901
on the fritz1924
1901 ‘H. McHugh’ John Henry 83 A stranglehold line of business that will put Looey Harrison on the blink.
1904 ‘O. Henry’ Cabbages & Kings iii. 51 This café looks on the blink, but I guess it can set out something wet.
1912 P. G. Wodehouse Prince & Betty xiii. 176 That punt-pole's on the blink. I tried it yesterday, and it creaked.
1921 R. D. Paine Comrades Rolling Ocean xvi. 273 The engines had to be stopped and the first assistant reported that ‘the condenser was finally and totally on the blink.’
1934 P. G. Wodehouse Right ho, Jeeves xi. 136 All those years he spent in making millions in the Far East put his digestion on the blink.
1960 ‘J. Ashford’ Counsel for Def. vi. 68 No good, David. The 'frig. is on the blink again.
2.
a. A glance (usually, a bright, cheerful glance); a glimpse. (Chiefly Scottish)
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > a look or glance > [noun]
eie wurpc950
laitc1175
looka1200
lecha1250
sightc1275
insighta1375
blushc1390
castc1400
glentc1400
blenkc1440
regardc1450
ray1531
view1546
beam of sight1579
eye-beam1583
eyewink1591
blink1594
aspecta1616
benda1616
eyeshot1615
eye-casta1669
twire1676
ken1736
Magdalene-look1752
glimmering1759
deek1833
wink1847
deck1853
vision1855
pipe1865
skeg1876
dekko1894
screw1904
slant1911
gander1914
squiz1916
butcher's hook1934
butcher's1936
gawk1940
bo-peep1941
nose1976
1594 R. Carew tr. T. Tasso Godfrey of Bulloigne i. 6 Lookes downe, and in one blinck, and in one vew, Comprizeth all what so the world can shew.
1594 R. Carew tr. T. Tasso Godfrey of Bulloigne iv. 182 Her eyes Sweet blinck.
1715 Let. in R. Wodrow Corr. (1843) II. 66 We have had a sweet blink at the sacrament last Sabbath.
1790 R. Burns Tam o' Shanter 158 in Poems & Songs (1968) II. 562 For ae blink o' the bonie burdies!
1816 W. Scott Old Mortality viii, in Tales of my Landlord 1st Ser. IV. 163 I wish my master were living to get a blink o't.
1848 P. J. Bailey Festus (ed. 3) 185 By the blink of thine eye.
b. The action or an act of blinking.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > external parts of body > head > face > eye > [noun] > movements of eye > winking or blinking
prinkOE
twinklinga1300
blenching1393
twink14..
blenking?a1505
twinking1519
twinkle1548
connivance1596
winka1616
nictation1623
shailing1653
nictitation1794
blinking1871
blink1924
bat1932
saccade1953
1924 J. Galsworthy White Monkey i. xii He did not miss the shift and blink in the manager's eyes.
3. transferred. The time taken by a glance; an instant, the twinkling of an eye; = German Augenblick. (Chiefly Scottish)
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > duration > shortness or brevity in time > [noun] > moment or instant
hand-whileOE
prinkOE
start-while?c1225
twinkling1303
rese?c1335
prick1340
momenta1382
pointa1382
minutea1393
instant1398
braida1400
siquarea1400
twink14..
whip?c1450
movement1490
punct1513
pissing whilea1556
trice1579
turning of a hand1579
wink1585
twinklec1592
semiquaver1602
punto1616
punctilio of time1620
punctum1620
breathing1625
instance1631
tantillation1651
rapc1700
crack1725
turning of a straw1755
pig's whisper1780
jiffy1785
less than no time1788
jiff1797
blinka1813
gliffy1820
handclap1822
glimpsea1824
eyewink1836
thought1836
eye-blink1838
semibreve1845
pop1847
two shakes of a lamb's taila1855
pig's whistle1859
time point1867
New York minute1870
tick1879
mo?1896
second1897
styme1897
split-second1912
split minute1931
no-time1942
sec.1956
a1813 A. Wilson Poems & Lit. Prose (1876) II. 12 The liquor was brought in a blink.
1827 W. Scott Two Drovers in Chron. Canongate 1st Ser. I. xiii. 299 Stay, Robin—bide a blink.
1864 R. S. Hawker Quest Sangraal 24 Whole Ages glided in that Blink of Time.
4. = ice blink n.: a shining whiteness about the horizon produced by reflection from distant masses of ice. Also, loosely, a large mass or field of ice, an iceberg.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > naturally occurring light > [noun] > light from the sky > reflected from ice or lying snow
blink1778
ice blink1808
land-blink1835
sky blink1837
1778 J. Cook Jrnl. 15 Aug. (1967) III. i. 416 A brigh[t]ness in the Northern horizon like that reflected from ice, commonly called the blink.
1818 Edinb. Rev. 30 17 The blink from packs of ice, appears of a pure white.
1837 G. G. Macdougall tr. W. A. Graah Narr. Exped. East Coast Greenland 80 During the three hours we took to pass this blink, it calved about twenty times.
1856 E. K. Kane Arctic Explor. I. v. 49 I ascended to the crow's-nest, and saw..the ominous blink of ice ahead.
5. blink microscope n. [German Blinkmikroskop] an instrument for viewing two photographs of the same section of the sky alternately in rapid succession. Also called blink comparator n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > optical instruments > instruments for observing > [noun] > comparator
optical comparator1901
stereo-comparator1901
blink microscope1911
blink comparator1930
1910 C. Pulfrich in Zeitschr. f. Instrumentenkunde XXX. 1 Die Anwendung des Blinkmikroskops.]
1911 C. Pulfrich in Encycl. Brit. XXV. 900/2 Since 1904 binocular observation of stellar plates..has been gradually discarded for the method devised by Pulfrich, which consists in the monocular observation of the two plates..with the assistance of the so-called ‘blink’ microscope.
1930 Discovery Aug. 252/2 It [sc. the planet Pluto] was identified from its motion past the numerous fixed stars as revealed on plates of the same star field while being compared under the blink comparator.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1887; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
blinkn.3
U.S.
A fisherman's name for the mackerel when about a year old.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > fish > superorder Acanthopterygii (spiny fins) > order Perciformes (perches) > suborder Scombroidei (mackerel) > [noun] > family Scombridae > genus Scomber > member of (mackerel) > at certain stage in life
shiner1836
tinker1848
tinker mackerel1851
blink1884
spike1884
1884 Capt. Atwood in G. B. Goode et al. Fisheries U.S.: Sect. I 298 The tinkers, two years old... The mackerel..are denominated as follows: Large ones, second size, tinkers, and blinks.
1888 Atwood in Goode Amer. Fishes 174 Fish of this size are sometimes called ‘Spikes’... The next year I think they are the ‘Blinks’, being one year old.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1933; most recently modified version published online June 2020).
blinkadj.
/blɪŋk/, U.S. /blɪŋk/ 1. Of the eyes: Habitually blinking. Hence blink-eyed adj. Also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > external parts of body > head > face > eye > [adjective] > movements of eye > winking or blinking
winking1555
blinking1568
blink1575
wapper1581
blinked1590
wapper-eyed1604
twinkling1740
nictitant1826
blinky1861
nictitating1899
1575 G. Gascoigne Hearbes 152 Remembre Batte the foolish blink eyed boye.
1590 C. Marlowe Tamburlaine: 2nd Pt. sig. F4v The blink-ei'd Burghers heads.
a1695 A. Wood Life (1848) 220 A blinkeyed bookseller in Cheapside.
1695 London Gaz. No. 3041/4 Blink Ey'd, high Nos'd.
1823 J. Thacher Mil. Jrnl. 320 It was the doctor's misfortune to have one blink eye.
1846 C. Dickens Pictures from Italy 9 Blink-eyed little casements.
1929 J. B. Priestley Good Compan. iii. i A piebald blink-eyed,..little pierrot show.
2. Of milk, etc.: Slightly sour. Cf. blink v. 7.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > sourness or acidity > [adjective]
sourc1000
sourish1398
acetosea1400
eagerc1405
acetous?a1425
crabbed1565
sharpish1589
unsugared1592
flatten1594
Amerine1601
acetosous1605
acerba1616
acid1626
acidulous1674
salso-acid1697
acescent1707
sugarless1785
acidulent1800
blink1883
brut1891
1883 C. F. Smith Southernisms in Trans. Amer. Philol. Soc. 45 Blink milk, ‘milk somewhat soured.’ West Virginia.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1887; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
blinkv.
/blɪŋk/, U.S. /blɪŋk/ I. To deceive, elude, turn away.† 1. transitive. To deceive. Obsolete. rare. [For Middle English blench v.1 1, blenk v. 1]
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > deceive [verb (transitive)]
aschrenchc885
blendc888
swikec950
belirtOE
beswike971
blencha1000
blenka1000
belieOE
becatchc1175
trokec1175
beguile?c1225
biwrench?c1225
guile?c1225
trechec1230
unordainc1300
blink1303
deceivec1320
feintc1330
trechetc1330
misusea1382
blind1382
forgo1382
beglose1393
troil1393
turnc1405
lirt?a1425
abuse?a1439
ludify1447
amuse1480
wilec1480
trump1487
delude?a1505
sile1508
betrumpa1522
blear1530
aveugle1543
mislippen1552
pot1560
disglose1565
oversile1568
blaze1570
blirre1570
bleck1573
overtake1581
fail1590
bafflea1592
blanch1592
geck?a1600
hallucinate1604
hoodwink1610
intrigue1612
guggle1617
nigglea1625
nose-wipe1628
cog1629
cheat1637
flam1637
nurse1639
jilt1660
top1663
chaldese1664
bilk1672
bejuggle1680
nuzzlec1680
snub1694
bite1709
nebus1712
fugle1719
to take in1740
have?1780
quirk1791
rum1812
rattlesnake1818
chicane1835
to suck in1842
mogue1854
blinker1865
to have on1867
mag1869
sleight1876
bumfuzzle1878
swop1890
wool1890
spruce1917
jive1928
shit1934
smokescreen1950
dick1964
1303 R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne 4169 We Englys men þeron shulde þynke Þat enuye us nat blynke.
2. † a. intransitive. To start out of the way, so as to elude anything; = blench v.1 2, blenk v. 2. Obsolete. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > sideways movement or a sideways movement > move sideways [verb (intransitive)] > avoid by moving to the side
blencha1250
blenka1330
blinka1400
jouk1513
jink1786
the world > action or operation > inaction > not doing > abstaining or refraining from action > abstain or refrain from action [verb (intransitive)] > avoid > shrink or recoil
wondec897
blencha1250
shunta1250
scurnc1325
blenka1330
blinka1400
startc1400
shrink1508
blanch1572
swerve1573
shruga1577
flinch1578
recoil1582
budgea1616
shucka1620
smay1632
blunk1655
shudder1668
resile1678
skew1678
reluctate1833
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 7626 Thoru he had his bodi born Ne had he blinked [Vesp., Fairf. blenked, Trin. Cambr. blenched] him biforn.
b. transitive (Coursing.) To elude (the dogs) temporarily.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > hunting > thing hunted or game > action of game > [verb (transitive)]
to give the bay toc1515
bay1575
make a bay at1579
to fling off1711
run1781
to stand before ——1827
fault1873
blink1876
1876 Coursing Cal. 197 The hare blinked Grace at the fence.
1876 Coursing Cal. 252 Hylactor and Blue Sea ran very evenly for some distance, but, as puss blinked them in a hollow, Hylactor was so well placed that he made a few weak points before effecting the death.
c. transitive. To avoid, flinch from.Cf. c1300 at blench v.1 3.
II. To move the eyelids, twinkle, peep, wink.† 3. intransitive. To look, look up from sleep, open the eyes. [Only in this author; otherwise blenk v. 6]
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > external parts of body > head > face > eye > [verb (intransitive)] > move eyes > open eyes
blink1303
unwinkc1440
1303 R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne 5675 Pers of hys slepe gan blynke, And gretely on hys dreme gan þynke.
4. To twinkle with the eye or eyelids. In various shades of meaning which run into one another: in the earlier, the notion of ‘glancing’ predominates; in the later, that of ‘winking’.
a. To glance, cast or let fall a glance, have a peep; to look with glances (and not steadily).
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > seeing or looking > see [verb (intransitive)] > glance or look quickly
glent1303
gliffc1330
gleam1340
blenka1375
keekc1405
glidec1425
gliffen1489
runa1500
glish1570
glance1582
to glance one's eye, look1590
blink1592
squint1610
reflect1611
teet1710
glisk1720
glint1888
1592 King James VI in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eng. Hist. ii. 236. III. 163 Turne your eyes a littell..to blinke upon the necessaire cace of youre Friend.
1600 W. Shakespeare Midsummer Night's Dream v. i. 174 Sweete and louely wall, Showe mee thy chinke, to blink through, with mine eyne. View more context for this quotation
c1650 Lord of Learne 428 in F. J. Furnivall Percy Folio (1867) I. 197 Rather..then all the gold that ere I blinket on with mine eye.
1729 in Ramsay Tea-t. Misc. 16 On him she did na gloom, But blinkit bonnilie.
b. To look with twinkling eyelids, as one half-awake or dazzled with light.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > seeing or looking > see [verb (intransitive)] > peer
toot?c1225
porec1300
pirea1393
peer1580
pink1587
under-peer1589
blink1600
to look wormsc1600
squinny1608
pee1673
pore1706
pinker1754
styme1808
speer1866
squint1891
quiz1906
skeeze1922
1600 J. Lane Tom Tel-Troths Message 132 It blinds the sight, it makes men bleare-eyd blinke.
1816 S. T. Coleridge Christabel ii. 42 A snake's small eye blinks dull and shy.
1852 H. B. Stowe Uncle Tom's Cabin I. ix. 137 Holding the candle aloft, and blinking on our travellers with a dismal and mystified expression.
1861 C. Norton Lady of La Garaye iv. 176 The babe..with tender eyes Blinks at the world a little while, and dies.
1863 M. E. Braddon John Marchmont's Legacy III. i. 2 A brown setter..lay upon the hearth-rug..blinking at the blaze.
c. To shut the eyelids momentarily and involuntarily; to wink for an instant.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > external parts of body > head > face > eye > [verb (intransitive)] > move eyes > wink or blink
twinklea1300
prinkc1330
winka1400
twinkc1400
wapper1575
pimper1600
twire1601
hoodwink1641
connive1712
nictate1755
bat1838
blink1858
the world > life > the body > external parts of body > head > face > eye > [verb (transitive)] > move eyes > wink or blink
beatc1360
wag1574
twinkle1591
wink1838
snap1847
blink1858
1858 M. Porteous Real Souter Johnny (ed. 2) 30 Or silly mortal blinks an ee.
1865 C. Dickens Our Mutual Friend II. iii. i. 1 London..was blinking, wheezing, and choking.
1877 M. Foster Text Bk. Physiol. iii. v. 421 When we stimulate one of our eyelids with a sharp electrical shock, both eyelids blink.
d. transitive. to blink (tears) away or back: to send (tears) away, to avoid shedding (tears), by blinking.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > calmness > self-possession or self-control > control oneself or the emotions [verb (transitive)] > repress tears
to blink (tears) away or back1905
1905 E. Glyn Vicissitudes Evangeline 215 Tears kept rising in my eyes, and I did not even worry to blink them away.
1919 F. Hurst Humoresque 146 She blinked back the ever-recurring tears.
1924 R. Macaulay Orphan Island xxi. §1 Rosamond blinked away tears, with the salt Pacific, from her eyes.
1945 ‘C. Brahms’ & ‘S. J. Simon’ Six Curtains for Stroganova xx. 162 Above her flowers Dourakova bowed, smiled, and blinked back her tears.
5. To cast a sudden or momentary gleam of light; to twinkle as a star; to shine with flickering light, or with a faint peep of light; to shine unsteadily or dimly.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > light emitted in particular manner > [verb (intransitive)] > gleam, glimmer, or flicker
shimmera1100
blenk1303
leamc1330
blysnec1400
glimmerc1400
glimpsec1400
glintc1440
glim1481
lemyrea1500
glimster1565
glance1568
flicker1608
simper1633
gloat1644
gleen1662
shimper1674
blink1786
skimmer1788
flash1791
sheen1812
glinter1851
flimmer1880
1786 R. Burns Poems 69 Ev'ry star that blinks aboon.
1807 G. Crabbe Parish Reg. i, in Poems 49 Where blinks through paper'd panes, the setting Sun.
1821 J. Clare Village Minstrel I. 76 As stars blink out from clouds at night.
1828 W. Scott Fair Maid of Perth v, in Chron. Canongate 2nd Ser. II. 164 The very tapers are blinking, as if tired of our conference.
1872 W. Black Strange Adventures Phaeton xxx. 398 The sun was..blinking on the windows.
6.
a. transitive. To shut the eyes to; to evade, shirk, pass by, ignore: originally a sporting phrase.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > inattention > ignoring, disregard > ignore, disregard [verb (transitive)] > allow to pass unnoticed
to look through ——OE
to let (something) overpassa1375
overpassa1382
unseea1395
forgoa1400
balkc1440
dissimulea1450
pass?c1475
dissemblea1500
dissimulatea1533
to wink at1535
nod1607
connive1641
beholdc1650
to wink against1653
to shut one's eyes to (also against, on)a1711
blink1742
1742 H. Fielding Joseph Andrews I. i. xv. 108 There's a Bitch..she never blinked a Bird in her Life. View more context for this quotation
1811 Ld. Byron Hints from Horace 555 Dogs blink their coveys.
1823 T. De Quincey Lett. Young Man in London Mag. Jan. 89/2 Children, however, are incidents that will occur in this life; and must not be blinked.
1859 ‘G. Eliot’ Adam Bede I. i. xii. 247 It was no use blinking the fact.
b. With at.
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1857 E. H. Sears Athanasia vi. 43 Why have these passages..been blinked at and ignored?
7.
a. transitive. To turn (milk, beer, etc.) slightly sour. [The origin of this use has been sought in the glance of an evil eye, the ‘blinking’ of milk being formerly ascribed to witchcraft; also in the effect of lightning, since thunder generally ‘blinks’ milk.]
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the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > sourness or acidity > make sour [verb (transitive)]
sharpa1425
sourc1460
intersour1599
unsweeten1611
blink1616
dissweeten1622
besoura1660
sharpen1675
acidulate1684
whig1756
acidify1837
tack1868
tarten1925
acidize1936
1616 G. Markham tr. C. Estienne et al. Maison Rustique (rev. ed.) v. xxiii. 589 Bottle ale..must not only be coold sufficiently, but also blynckt a little to giue it a quick & sharp tast.
1689 Gazophylacium Anglicanum sig. D2 To blink beer; a word frequently used in Lincolnshire.
1742 W. Ellis London & Country Brewer (ed. 4) I. 263 They are apt to blink or give a little sourish Taste to their Drink.
b. intransitive. To turn slightly sour.
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the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > sourness or acidity > be or become sour [verb (intransitive)]
sour1390
souren1570
tart1629
blinka1665
whig1756
a1665 K. Digby Closet Opened (1669) 114 There let it [the wort] stand till it begin to blink, and grow long like thin Syrup.
1769 E. Raffald Experienced Eng. House-keeper xv. 295 Wine..is often spoiled.., for if you let it stand too long before you get it cold,..it Summer-beams and blinks in the Tub.
8. transitive. To cause one to blink; to blindfold. [A pseudo-archaism in Landor.]
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the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > not seeing or preventing from seeing > prevent from seeing [verb (transitive)] > blindfold or cover eyes
blindfold?c1225
to stop (a person's) eyes or sightc1380
enclose1477
silec1500
hoodwink1562
muffle1573
scarf1598
bluff1673
to seal (a person's) eyes or ears1700
bonnet1828
blink1846
occlude1921
1846 W. S. Landor Citation & Exam. Shakespere II. 278 He who blinketh the eyes of the poor wretch about to die doeth it out of mercy.
1853 E. K. Kane U.S. Grinnell Exped. (1856) xli. 376 With the sun..blinking my eyes.
9. See blenk v. 6, 7.
10. To look upon with the evil eye, to bewitch. Scottish and Irish English. Cf. 7a.
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the world > the supernatural > the occult > sorcery, witchcraft, or magic > enchantment or casting spells > [verb (transitive)] > put an evil spell on > bewitch with evil eye
overlook1579
eye-bite1584
fascinate1591
forelook1596
oversee1641
blink1880
1880 W. H. Patterson Gloss. Words Antrim & Down 9 Cow's milk is said to be blinked when it does not produce butter, in consequence of some supposed charm having been worked.
1886 Folk-lore Jrnl. 4 255 Cattle can be fairy-struck or bewitched..the first is called ‘sheetin’ and the second ‘blinked’.
1892 Ballymena Observer (E.D.D.) Blink, to bewitch cattle and cause them to have little or no milk and butter.
1926 Blackwood's Mag. Apr. 479/1 Perhaps we are bewitched or blinked, as Shamus Byrne would say.
1927 Scots Observer 15 Oct. 2/5 Mrs. Hazelton..had indeed blinked William Blair's cows.
1927 Scots Observer 15 Oct. 2/5 He had set fire to the wisp of straw and had put it under a blinked cow's nose.
Draft additions September 2018
blink and you'll miss it and variants: used to describe or designate something which is small or insignificant, or lasts for a very short amount of time, esp. a fleeting appearance by an actor in a film, etc. Often attributive.
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the world > space > extension in space > measurable spatial extent > smallness > [phrase] > extremely small
blink and you'll miss it1935
1935 Lethbridge (Alberta) Herald 28 Aug. 10/1 Blink and you'll miss him. Here he co—there he—he's gone!
1953 Frederick (Maryland) Post 4 Feb. 2/1 Fredericktonians who go down for it, will see Biro on stage for two brief scenes... He says ‘Don't blink or you'll miss me.’
1979 Michigan Alumnus Jan. 7/2 The town is of the ‘blink and you'll miss it’ genre.
1993 I. L. Allen City in Slang x. 254 East Jesus..is a name for such a god-forsaken place that is so small that ‘if you blink your eyes you miss it’.
2010 E. Decter & L. J. Burns Hot Mess xi. 297 Nobody remembers her blink-and-you'll miss it role in the horror flick Ritual.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1887; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.11303
n.21303
n.31884adj.1575
v.1303