squintn.
/skwɪnt/, U.S. /skwɪnt/ 1. figurative.1688 G. Miege Great French Dict. ii. sig. Sss2/1 A disingenious Squint, that looks with an evil eye upon every Thing.1875 Galaxy Apr. 560 Still, sometimes we manage to see things without a party squint, especially after election.
a. A permanent tendency in the eye to look obliquely or askant; defective coincidence of the optic axes; strabismus.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > disorders of eye > disordered vision > [noun] > squinting or cross-eyes
cast1505
squint-eyedness1591
squinting1626
squinta1652
squintness1656
strabism1656
strabismus1684
cockeye1738
goggle-eye1822
nystagmus1822
cross-eyes1826
cross-eyedness1846
anorthopia1849
heterophthalmy1854
hyperphoria1881
heterophoria1886
hypertropia1897
intorsion1899
hypophoria1932
prairie squint1937
a1652 R. Brome Queenes Exchange (1657) ii. i The dulnesse of the Eye, which here shews deadly But for a little squint it has.
1713 J. Swift Jrnl. to Stella 8 Feb. (1948) II. 617 He has favored her squint admirably, & you know I love a Cast in the Eye.
1764 T. Reid Inq. Human Mind vi. §15 In the retinæ of those who have an involuntary squint.
1764 T. Reid Inq. Human Mind vi. §15 In those who have no squint.
1815 W. Scott Guy Mannering II. 190 A stout bandy-legged fellow, with..a most portentous squint of the left eye.
1839 W. M. Thackeray Fatal Boots Jan. Nurse says that, when he is older, he will get rid of his squint.
1879 G. C. Harlan Eyesight ii. 30 The operation for squint, or ‘cross eye’, consists in weakening the overacting muscle by cutting it.
b. Pathology. With distinctive premodifiers.
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1842 Penny Cycl. XXII. 396/2 Inward Squint, or Strabismus convergens.
1842 Penny Cycl. XXII. 396/2 Outward Squint, or Strabismus divergens.
1867 Chambers's Encycl. IX. 69/1 The squint is said to be convergent when the eye or eyes are directed towards the nose, and divergent when they are directed towards the temple, and is termed single or double according as one eye or both are displaced.
1884 T. Bryant Pract. Surg. (ed. 4) I. viii. 409 Ordinary convergent or ‘concomitant’ squint has to be distinguished from..‘paralytic’ squint.
1884 Encycl. Brit. XVII. 786/1 In periodic squint glasses to correct the hypermetropia ought to be given.
1887 Brit. Med. Jrnl. 23 Apr. 874/2 He had a well-marked external squint of the left eye.
1887 Brit. Med. Jrnl. 23 Apr. 874/2 There was a slight internal squint.
c. attributive in squint-scissors (used in operating for strabismus).
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1879 St. George's Hosp. Rep. 9 492 The mass was..so tough as to resist the insertion of the point of an ordinary pair of squint-scissors.
d. Radar. Lack of alignment between the axis of a transmitting aerial and the direction of maximum radiation, deliberately introduced in some systems. Frequently attributive.
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society > communication > telecommunication > radio communications > [noun] > other methods or operations > radar > lack of alignment
squint1947
1947 L. N. Ridenour Radar Syst. Engin. vi. 197 ‘Squint’, which results from improper installation or trimming of antennas, has the same operational effect as crabbing of the aircraft in a cross-wind.
1969 D. K. Barton & H. R. Ward Handbk. Radar Measurem. ii. 31 The fall-off in energy ratio restricts the practical squint angles to about half the individual beamwidth.
1969 C. A. Wiley in Kayton & Fried Avionics Navigation Syst. viii. 370 (caption) Squint-mode window display.
2. A directing of the eyes obliquely; a sidelong look or glance; a hasty or casual look; a peep.
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the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > a look or glance > [noun] > hasty
glance1591
look-in1653
squint1673
gliska1713
run-over1814
once-over1913
up and down1923
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > a look or glance > [noun] > sideways
side-lookinga1500
side looka1586
blench1609
side glance1611
leera1616
skew1622
askewa1641
gloat1645
glega1650
by-glancea1658
squint1673
by-view1753
sklent1818
glee1828
squinny1902
1673 R. Leigh Transproser Rehears'd 14 Lacys best Grimaces were never so Artificial as the Squints of a Humiliation Saint.
1736 J. Hort Proposal Quadrille 2 To give Damages for all opprobrious Language, and especially for all Hints, Squints, Innuendoes, Leers, Shrugs.
1824 Countess Granville Lett. (1894) I. 245 He hopes to have another squint at me before I go.
1861 C. Dickens Great Expectations II. xiii. 212 I have been down the road taking a squint at the scene of action.
1894 G. M. Fenn In Alpine Valley I. 223 Better get back to him as soon as you've had your squint round.
3. An inclination or tendency towards some particular object; a drift or leaning; a covert aim.
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the world > existence and causation > existence > state or condition > tendency > [noun] > a tendency
spirita1425
inclination1526
bias?1571
vein1585
habitude1603
ply1605
nitency1662
result1663
tend1663
penchant1673
nisus1699
hank1721
squint1736
patent1836
subjectivism1845
lurch1854
biasness1872
tilt1975
1736 R. West Let. 22 Dec. in T. Gray Corr. (1971) I. 57 The prophecy has certainly a squint that way.
1891 E. Eggleston Faith Doctor iv. 43 He lost interest even in the dinner parties, with a business squint, that he had been so fond of giving.
1895 I. K. Funk et al. Standard Dict. Eng. Lang. II. (at cited word) A squint towards radicalism.
4. An oblique or perverse bent or tendency.
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the mind > attention and judgement > judgement or decision > misjudgement > [noun] > a perverse inclination or act
wrong-headedness1748
warp1764
squint1774
blind spot1864
1774 E. Carter Let. 30 May in Series of Lett. E. Carter & C. Talbot (1808) II. 272 Wit is a squint of the understanding which is mighty apt to set things in a wrong place.
1840 J. Hare Vict. Faith (1847) 45 This warping bent, this squint of our understandings.
5. attributive.1881 S. R. Macphail Relig. House Pluscardyn xix. 165 The squint window opening into the Lady's Chapel.
a. Architecture. = hagioscope n.
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the world > space > relative position > condition of being open or not closed > an opening or aperture > [noun] > for looking through
oillet1333
loop1393
sight-hole1559
tote-hole1561
peepholea1570
loophole1591
eyehole1655
grille1686
slit17..
eyelet1762
eyelet hole1774
spying-hole1791
eye-loop1803
squint1839
hagioscope1840
Judas hole1858
peek-hole1867
oillet pane1873
spy-hole1888
squint1891
viewport1942
society > faith > artefacts > division of building (general) > other parts > [noun] > hagioscope
squint1839
hagioscope1840
lychnoscope1843
leper window1850
squint-hole1889
1839–40 Hints on Eccl. Antiq. (ed. 2) 18 Hagioscope. By this term is intended the aperture made through different parts of the interior walls of a church..in order that the worshippers in the aisles might be able to see the Elevation of the Host. The technical term in use is ‘ Squint’..It is hoped..that the new term..may be thought useful.
1845 J. H. Parker Gloss. Terms Archit. (ed. 4) I. 350 There seems to be no good or ancient authority for the name of Squint applied to these openings, but it has been long in use.
1879 J. C. Cox Notes on Churches of Derbyshire IV. 21 At the east end of the south aisle is a genuine squint.
b. transferred. (See quot. 1891.)
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the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > thing seen > place where view obtained > [noun] > hole or window
oillet1333
tooting-holea1382
tote-hole1561
peepholea1570
eyehole1655
eyelet1762
eyelet hole1774
eye-loop1803
Judas hole1858
peek-hole1867
oillet pane1873
squint1891
observation window1897
viewport1942
port1949
the world > space > relative position > condition of being open or not closed > an opening or aperture > [noun] > for looking through
oillet1333
loop1393
sight-hole1559
tote-hole1561
peepholea1570
loophole1591
eyehole1655
grille1686
slit17..
eyelet1762
eyelet hole1774
spying-hole1791
eye-loop1803
squint1839
hagioscope1840
Judas hole1858
peek-hole1867
oillet pane1873
spy-hole1888
squint1891
viewport1942
1891 Hardwicke's Sci.-gossip 27 39 We placed ourselves at squints, or peeping-holes, formed by thrusting short sticks through the reed fence.
Draft additions September 2016
The action or result of partly closing one or both eyes in an attempt to protect them against strong light, dust, etc., or to focus, see more clearly, or in order to scrutinize more closely. Cf. squint v. Additions.
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1909 Indianapolis Sun 14 June (Editorial) The old square is there, in the warm sun. The same old glare gives a squint to the eyes. That squint is on each calm home face.
1941 W. Beck Blue Sash 142 Hugh Kent's glittering black eyes narrowed in a squint and studied the young man appreciatively.
1967 Texas Q. Winter 221 The pianist..plays always with only one eye open, the other in a squint against the smoke.
1991 T.McNally Low Flying Aircraft 154 He sat smiling, looking at me,..his eye tight in a squint and full of assessment.
1995 V. Chandra Red Earth & Pouring Rain (1997) 118 Something changed in his eyes, and maybe it was a squint against the dust, maybe something else.
2009 C. Miles Christmas Crime in Colorado i. 12 in C. Miles & E. James Christmas Crime in Colorado & Nick of Time Outside the sliding glass doors, the outline of a man took shape again. Her eyes narrowed in a squint, but she couldn't see him clearly.
2015 Philadelphia Daily News (Nexis) 17 Apr. (Local section) 3 He held his arm over his dark eyes, locked in a squint, to shade his face from the sun.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1915; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
squintadj.
/skwɪnt/, U.S. /skwɪnt/ 1.
a. Of eyes: Looking obliquely; having a cast or squint; affected with strabismus. Now rare.In early quots. frequently implying envy or malice.
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the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > disorders of eye > disordered vision > [adjective] > squinting or cross-eyed
wall-eyeda1400
thwartingc1430
gleed1482
pink-eyed1519
goggle1540
squint1579
squint-eyed1589
squinted1591
squinting1611
moon-eyed1623
squink-eyed1632
asquint1643
skew-eyed1658
cockeyed1751
yaw-sighted1751
swivel-eyed1758
cross-eyed1791
slew-eyed1807
skellied1821
squinny-eyeda1825
strabismic1855
boss-eyed1860
strabismical1866
hyperphoric1887
strabismal1891
heterophoric1894
squinty1922
squinty1925
1579 E. Spenser Shepheardes Cal. Aug. 129 Heardgrome, I feare me, thou haue a squint eye. [Gloss, partiall iudgement.]
1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World I. 161 He was syrnamed already Strabo, for his squint eyes.
1602 T. Heywood How Man may chuse Good Wife D 4 Gold can make limping Vulcan walke vpright, Make squint eyes looke strait.
1616 Greenes Mourning Garment (new ed.) Concl. sig. K3v Zoilus with his squint eyes will finde fault with the shape.
1658 R. Creshald Legacy 15 The Survey and malevolent Aspect of some Squint and Blood-shot Eye.
1775 J. Adair Hist. Amer. Indians 437 Hired speakers, who use their squint eyes and forked tongues like the chieftains of the snakes.
1903 C. Lumholtz Unknown Mexico I. 245 Squint-eyes also afford them much amusement.
b. figurative (with eye = ‘look, regard’, and usually hyphenated).
ΚΠ
a1625 J. Fletcher Rule a Wife (1640) iii. 23 The pleasure I shall live in and the freedome Without the squint-eye of the law upon me.
1638 T. Herbert Some Yeares Trav. (rev. ed.) 85 He beholds..his inferiors with a squint and supercilious eye of scorne and tyranny.
1715 J. Chappelow Right Way to be Rich 142 Now and then casting a Squint-Eye upon his Money-Bags.
1901 Westm. Gaz. 11 Dec. 9/2 I..hope to end my days without having used the squint-eye of prejudice in examining any fact whatever.
2.
a. Of looks: Characterized by oblique vision.
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the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > a look or glance > [adjective] > sideways
askanted1576
squintinga1593
askance1593
squint1611
leer1631
skaunt1791
squinnya1825
sideways-looking1832
cockeyed1852
skance1866
squinnying1973
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues at Gar Vn regard à gar, a squint looke.
1626 J. Florio et al. tr. T. Boccalini New-found Politicke i. 71 Her looke is squint, with which wishly beholding one, she fixedly looketh vpon another.
1714 R. Smith Poems 38 Thy squaint [sic] looks makes thee miss the mark.
1808 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. at Gley A squint look.
b. figurative. Of suspicion. poetic.In quot. 1787 passing into 2c.
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the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > lack of confidence, distrust, suspicion > [adjective] > looking sideways
squint1637
1637 J. Milton Comus 15 My nature is That I encline to hope, rather then feare And gladly banish squint suspicion.
1744 J. Thomson Tancred & Sigismunda v. i Henceforth, noble Osmond,..honour more my truth, Nor mark me with an eye of squint suspicion.
1787 G. Colman Prose Several Occasions III. 250 While squint Suspicion holds her treacherous lamp.
c. Of persons: Squinting, squint-eyed.
ΚΠ
1650 J. Trapp Clavis to Bible (Gen. xxix. 17) 234 Leah was tender-eyed. Purblinde, or squint, as One interprets it.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > hiding, concealing from view > keeping from knowledge > indirect action or process > [adjective]
collateralc1374
ambagious?1532
indirect1584
circular1617
squint1619
squinting1648
sidelong1654
circumferentiala1661
circuitous1664
side wind1672
side-winded1696
roundabout1701
side-handed1828
1619 J. Dyke Counterpoison 50 Out of a squint respect to your owne gaine.
1654 R. Whitlock Ζωοτομία 370 To cleare ourselves of these Squint Aspects in our Services of Heaven, is a Perfection too Seraphicall for Earth.
1681 T. A. Religio Clerici 56 Though 'tis not much to the purpose,..yet you may perceive it bears some squint relation to this discourse.
4.
a. Characterized by obliquity of action.
ΚΠ
c1610 J. Donne Let. to C'tess Bedford in Wks. (1912) I. 189 As although a squint left-handedness Be ungracious, yet we cannot want that hand.
b. Oblique; slanting.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > inclination > [adjective]
embelifc1400
inclining?c1400
oblique?a1425
inclinate?1440
hieldingc1480
inclined?a1500
bias1551
overthwart1594
sidelong1598
squinty1598
skew1609
traverse1609
skewed1611
obliquous1614
squint1703
inclinated1751
slanting1768
slanted1770
slant1776
aslant1791
diagonal1796
rakish1830
slantindicular1832
slantwise1856
slaunchways1913
slanty1928
1703 in E. Henderson Ann. Dunfermline (1879) 374 One squint cutt on one of the hinder legs.
1724 W. Hope Vindic. Art Self-def. 131 The slop or squint motion of your arm near to the body.
1852 R. Burn Naval & Mil. Techn. Dict. French Lang. (ed. 2) ii. 254 Squint-quoin,..encognure oblique.
1858 Skyring's Builders' Prices 66 Squint quoins, per foot run.
5. squint-minded adj. having a perverse or depraved mind.
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society > morality > moral evil > wickedness > [adjective] > perverse
wharfedc1175
perverse?a1439
oblique1576
squint-minded1653
obliquitous1833
1653 T. Urquhart tr. F. Rabelais 2nd Bk. Wks. xxxiv. 220 You and I both are farre more worthy of pardon, then a great rabble of squint-minded fellowes, dissembling and counterfeit Saints.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1915; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
squintv.
/skwɪnt/, U.S. /skwɪnt/ 1. in extended use.1829 Chapters Physical Sci. 335 In this experiment the fingers may in a manner be said to squint.
a. intransitive. To have the axes of the eyes not coincident, so that one or both habitually look obliquely; to be affected with strabismus.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > disorders of eye > disordered vision > of vision: become disordered [verb (intransitive)] > squint
gleea1400
to look nine ways1542
squint1611
skelly1776
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Louscher, to squint, sken, or looke askew.
1677 W. Wycherley Plain-dealer ii. 23 Can any one be call'd beautiful that squints?
1709 R. Steele Tatler No. 5 It is certainly a Mistake..to draw..Love, as a blind Boy; for his real Character is, a little Thief that squints.
1764 T. Reid Inq. Human Mind vi. §15 Of those who squint, the far greater part have no distinct vision with one eye.
1808 Med. & Physical Jrnl. 19 314 The reason why those persons who squint, generally turn the weak eye towards the nose.
1852 W. M. Thackeray Henry Esmond I. vii. 162 My lady's own waiting-woman squinted, and was marked with the small-pox.
1870 H. Smart Race for Wife ii. 35 I heard one hideous old woman confide..that you squinted.
b. Of the eyes.
ΚΠ
1834 F. Marryat Japhet in Metrop. Mag. Dec. 329 One of his assistants had only one eye, and the other squinted horribly.
1862 G. Borrow Wild Wales xxxiii His eyes were grey and looked rather as if they squinted.
2. figurative.1622 G. Hakewill King David's Vow (new ed.) iii. 103 Hee could not at once intend two such distant objects; hee might glance, or squint upon both: but directly fix his eyes upon both hee could not.1768 A. Tucker Light of Nature Pursued I. i. 276 This we do by the power we have over our ideas to overlook or as it were squint upon some and hold others in a steddier view.
a. To look with the eyes differently directed; to glance obliquely or in other than the direct line of vision; also, to glance hastily or casually, to peep.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > seeing or looking > see [verb (intransitive)] > look sideways
schule?c1225
to look asidec1230
bagge1369
gogglec1380
to look awryc1400
slizec1400
leer1530
to look askew1538
skew1570
gloat1576
to glance one's eye, look1590
squean1608
squinny1608
squint1610
sken1611
sleer1680
glime1684
skime1691
side-glance1799
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
1610 G. Fletcher Christs Victorie 33 He..ever, as he crept, would squint aside, Lest him, perhaps, some Furie had espide.
1640 R. Brome Sparagus Garden iii. iv. 159 He gets a crick in his neck oft-times with squinting up at Windowes and Belconies.
1707 J. Stevens tr. F. de Quevedo Comical Wks. (1709) 89 He drew near,..squinting upon the bundle.
1716 A. Pope Further Acct. E. Curll 13 Some turning away their Heads..; others squinting with a Leer that show'd at once Fear and Indignation.
1802 E. Parsons Myst. Visit IV. 38 Squinting at Sir William with no little disdain.
1850 G. Cupples Green Hand v. 57/1 Well, we squints up the hatchway, and see'd a young midshipman a-standing with his back to us.
1892 Photogr. Ann. II. 41 Without having to squint at the ground glass with your nose nearly touching it.
b. figurative. To have a private eye to something. Const. at or upon.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > moral evil > evil nature or character > lack of magnanimity or noble-mindedness > self-interest > seek or look after one's own interest [verb (intransitive)]
to shift for oneselfa1513
to lick one's fingers1530
to lick the trencher1542
to serve one's (also one's own) turn1560
to have an eye to (also for) the main chance1584
to look (also have an eye, etc.) to the main chance1592
squint1642
to mind, provide for, be careful of the main chance1645
to fish for oneself1647
to scratch for oneself1850
to play politics1860
1642 T. Fuller Holy State iii. xxv. 233 Pity but his eyes were out that squints at his own ends in doing Gods work.
1694 T. Southerne Fatal Marriage i. i. 7 That has a face of good Nature; but it squints with both Eyes upon your own Interest.
1782 W. Cowper To W. Bull 12 Not meaning..His pleasure, or his good alone, But squinting partly at my own.
c. figurative. To glance at, on, or upon (a person or thing) with dislike or disapproval, or by means of some covert allusion, hint, or suggestion.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > seeing or looking > see [verb (transitive)] > glance at
overglance1598
squint1652
glimpse1833
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disapproval > disapprove of [verb (transitive)] > express disapproval of > by facial expression or look
frown1576
squint1652
(a)
(b)a1732 J. Gay Fables (1738) II. iv. 25 In prudence, too, you think my rhimes Should never squint at courtiers crimes.1742 H. Fielding Joseph Andrews II. iii. ix. 141 I hope you have a better Opinion of my Taste, than to apprehend I squinted at yourself. View more context for this quotation1779 Lovell in J. Adams Wks. (1854) IX. 481 R. H. Lee with H. Laurens are squinted at as two monsters..who pursue points in which the Southern States have no interest.1894 A. Birrell Ess. ix. 99 The dramatists he squinted at were worse than they had any need to be.1652 E. Benlowes Theophila x. xlix. 185 He hates Superiors,..And on his Fellows squints, that are in joynt Command.
1654 R. Whitlock Ζωοτομία 429 They will come to a bad Market too, in Times that squint on Ingenious Labours.
1706 Secret Mem. Earl of Leicester Pref. [He] does not in the least squint upon the Earl as guilty of the fact.
3. figurative. To have a side or covert reference, implication, bearing, or aim; to refer or bear indirectly; to incline or tend. Const. with toward(s, that (or this) way, or at.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > existence > state or condition > tendency > tend or incline [verb (intransitive)]
wryc888
driveOE
drawc1175
rine?c1225
soundc1374
tendc1374
lean1398
clinea1400
movec1450
turnc1450
recline?a1475
covet1520
intend?1521
extenda1533
decline?1541
bow1562
bend1567
follow1572
inflecta1575
incline1584
warpa1592
to draw near1597
squint1599
nod1600
propend1605
looka1616
verge1664
gravitate1673
set1778
slant1850
trend1863
tilt1967
the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > meaning > meaning of linguistic unit > implied meaning > have implied meaning [verb (intransitive)]
squint1599
shoot1680
1599 T. Nashe Lenten Stuffe 30 There is a foule fault in the print escapt, that curstly squinteth and leereth that way.
1624 R. Montagu Gagg for New Gospell? vi. 58 What neede I produce authority of Fathers?..[N]ame me but one that squinteth that way, nedum that saith it positiuely.
1644 J. Bulwer Chirologia 62 The Rubriques of the Romish Rites, which seeme a little to squint this way, prescribe three formes of Benediction.
1716 M. Davies Crit. Hist. 54 in Athenæ Britannicæ III There be some short Passages in the holy Fathers, that seem to squint towards some of the Articles of Popery.
1768 Woman of Honor II. 54 Happened to drop something that squinted towards a reproach to his Lordship.
1895 I. K. Funk et al. Standard Dict. Eng. Lang. II. (at cited word) The document squints toward treason.
1898 Daily News 26 Feb. 5/5 The President is prepared to veto any clap-trap measure which squints at war.
1902 J. F. Rusling European Days & Ways 343 A goodly Wesleyan chapel,..not ambitious to be called a church yet, but squinting that way.
4. To move or branch off in an oblique direction.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > aspects of travel > travel in specific course or direction > direct one's course [verb (intransitive)] > move in an oblique direction
slope1605
squint1721
quarter1806
the world > space > relative position > inclination > incline or be oblique [verb (intransitive)]
lean1398
embelif1413
incline1553
cast1599
shelve1644
descend1675
slant1698
angle1741
cant1794
squint1799
oblique1814
1721 R. Wodrow Hist. Sufferings Church of Scotl. (1830) II. 30/2 Dalziel sends out a party of about fifty horse to squint along the edge of the hill, and attack their left wing.
1799 R. Kirwan Geol. Ess. 288 That the vein in the inferior stratum of lime~stone..squints 4 or five yards from the superior vein.
5. figurative.1622 F. Bacon Hist. Raigne Henry VII (1876) (modernized text) 166 Perkin..marched to Taunton; beginning already to squint one eye upon the crown, and another upon the sanctuary.
a. transitive. To give a permanent or temporary cast to (the eye); to cause to look asquint or obliquely.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > seeing or looking > see [verb (transitive)] > look sideways at > turn (eyes) sideways
blenchc1400
skew1577
goggle1582
askance1594
squinta1616
squinnya1825
a1616 W. Shakespeare King Lear (1623) iii. iv. 109 The foule Flibbertigibbet..giues the Web and the Pin, squints the eye, and makes the Hare-lippe.
1637 T. Heywood Pleasant Dial. xiii, in Wks. (1874) VI. 226 Let him but use An unsway'd eye, not squinted with affections.
1852 R. S. Surtees Mr. Sponge's Sporting Tour xxxvii. 203 Our friend..was now squinting his eyes inside out with anger.
b. To cast or direct (a look, etc.) in a sidelong manner.
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the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > seeing or looking > see [verb (transitive)] > direct (a look)
warpc1175
send1592
dart1593
look1599
squint1631
fling1654
1631 G. Chapman Warres Pompey & Caesar iv. v What wild looks Are squinted at me from men's mere suspicions That I am wild myself.
1748 J. Thomson Castle of Indolence i. xv On others' ways they never squint a frown, Nor heed what haps in hamlet or in town.
6.
a. To divert obliquely.
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the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > sideways movement or a sideways movement > cause to move sideways [verb (transitive)] > cause to move obliquely
glancea1656
squint1789
1789 J. Pilkington View Derbyshire I. iii. 58 In the language of the miners these veins are squinted 4 or 5 yards northwardly from their former direction, that is, they have departed so much from their perpendicular range.
b. To cross (a surface) obliquely.
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society > travel > aspects of travel > travel in specific course or direction > direct one's course [verb (intransitive)] > move in an oblique direction > cross (a surface ) obliquely
squint1844
1844 Queen Victoria Jrnl. 21 Sept. in D. Duff Victoria in Highlands (1968) i. 58 We then began our descent, ‘squinting’ the hill, the ponies going as safely..as possible.
1884 Queen Victoria More Leaves 97 We first went along the road and then on the heather ‘squinting’ the hill.
Draft additions September 2016
transitive.
To partly close (one or both eyes) in an attempt to focus or see more clearly, or in order to scrutinize more closely.
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1879 St. Nicholas Dec. 113/1 ‘Over there,’ replied Will... The old fellow squinted his eyes and looked across the river.
1943 W. Stegner Big Rock Candy Mountain x. 534 He..waved the razor at a chair and tilted his head back to get at his throat, shooting his underlip out and squinting his eyes.
1983 R. Cormier Bumblebee flies Anyway viii. 81 He did not care to identify them [sc. the magazines] at this moment because he would have to squint his eyes to make out the names and faces on the covers.
2009 J. Lethem Chronic City ii. 36 He raised his arms and squinted one eye like a five–year–old to mime bagging a moving target with a blunderbuss or elephant gun.
To partly close (one or both eyes) as a protective reaction to strong light, dust, rain, etc.
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1900 E. E. Peake Darlingtons xxi. 251 I simply can't imagine you rolling a cigar between your teeth..and squinting your eyes to keep the smoke out.
1943 Oelwein (Iowa) Daily Reg. 8 Sept. 4/3 Marty..[threw himself] down on the sand beside them, squinting his eyes against the sun.
1971 J. Stewart Last Cool Days 13 The rain stung where it struck his face and hands; and he had to squint his eyes to protect them.
2007 T. Tingle Chosen One lviii. 522 He had to squint his eyes, to avoid the sting of blowing dry sand.
intransitive. To look at someone or something with one or both eyes partly closed as a protective reaction to strong light, dust, rain, etc.
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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
1891 Atchison (Kansas) Daily Globe 7 May ‘The sunlight is so strong.’ ‘But to squint and tie your face up into knots..brings premature wrinkles and crowsfeet.’
1957 L. Arden Savage Place iv. 45 The wind swept up a cloud of dust.., making people squint and turn away.
1975 N.Y. Times 23 June 44/6 Jay Schwehr looked up a few feet at the low-hanging clouds and squinted into the driving rain.
2013 M. Lawson Deaths xiii. 447 He squints against the rising sun.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1915; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
squintadv.
rare.
With a squint; obliquely, askant. Also in combination squint-looker.
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the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > disorders of eye > disordered vision > [adverb] > squinting
asquinta1398
squint1398
agoggle1510
nine ways (at once)1542
awkward?1589
squintingly1593
strabismally1893
1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomew de Glanville De Proprietatibus Rerum (Tollem. MS) v. vi Naþeles not euery squyntloker seþ so, þey his yen ben uneuen.
1621–31 W. Laud Serm. (1847) 198 If ‘justice and judgment’ roll this eye aside,..they begin to look squint, and in part leave God.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1915; most recently modified version published online June 2018).
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n.a1652adj.1579
v.1599
adv.1398- eruvs
- erven
- ervil
- ervils
- erw
- ery
- erynet
- erynge
- eryngium
- eryngiums
- eryngo
- eryngo-root
- eryngoes
- eryngoroot
- eryngos
- environmental engineer
- environmental engineering
- environmental friendliness
- environmental friendly
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