ˈsand-blind, a. Now arch., poet., and dial.
[Prob. a perversion of OE. *samblind (see sam- and blind a.), after sand n.2
Cf. Johnson's explanation: ‘Having a defect in the eyes, by which small particles appear to fly before them’.]
Half-blind, dim-sighted, purblind. Also fig.
| 14.. Nom. in Wr.-Wülcker 709/34 Luscus, he that is sand-blynde. 1538 Elyot Dict., Lippio, to be poreblynde, or sande blynde. 1549 Chaloner Erasm. on Folly H j, If one that is sandblynde woulde take an asse for a moyle. a 1578 Lindesay (Pitscottie) Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.) I. 347 Drumlanrick being sum thing sand blind and saw nocht weill. 1596 Shakes. Merch. V. ii. ii. 37 This is my true begotten Father, who being more then sand-blinde, high grauel blinde, knows me not. a 1623 Fletcher Love's Cure ii. i, I have been Sand-blinde from my infancie. 1627 W. Sclater Exp. 2 Thess. (1629) 50 His minde, no more than sand-blind in the things of God. 1790 A. Wilson Rabby's Mistake Poet. Wks. (1846) 102 Sic was the day, whan san'-blin' Rab,..Set out in eager search for game. 1831 Carlyle Sart. Res. i. x, Thou hitherto art a Dilettante and sandblind Pedant. 1849 C. Brontë Shirley xxxv. He is bald, sand blind, grey-haired. 1864 G. M. Hopkins Poems (1967) 15 Are you sand⁓blind? Slabs of water many a mile Blaze for him all this while. 1938 W. de la Mare Memory 46 Hope..Led sand⁓blind Despair To a clear babbling wellspring And laved his eyes there. |
Hence ˈsand-blindness.
| 1552 Huloet, Sandblindnes, luscio. 1905 Outlook 16 Dec. 852/2 But there is a sort of sand-blindness endemic in the Liberal party just now. |