▪ I. blinking, vbl. n.
(ˈblɪŋkɪŋ)
[f. blink v.]
1. The action of the vb. blink in its various senses.
| 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) III. 84 Something they are able to behold without blinking. 1878 Morley Crit. Misc. Ser. i. 248 There is no blinking of the eyes to the part which..sordid or foul circumstances play in life. |
2. spec. in Brewing: The operation of giving a sharp taste to beer by letting the wort stand for some time. Also of beer: Turning sour during fermentation. (Cf. blink v. 7 a. and 7 b.)
| 1713 Lond. & Countr. Brew. iv. (1743) 271 Souring of the Grains, or what some call Blinking or Charing, is prevented. 1727 Bradley Fam. Dict. s.v. Brewing, In the North of England..they let their first Wort stand in their Receivers till it is very clear..which they call Blinking. |
3. The faulty action, in a sporting dog, of refusing to see and mark the position of game. Cf. blinker 4.
| 1814 W. Dobson Kunopædia 89 (heading) On Blinking. Defect in blood, a suspected cause. 1848 W. N. Hutchinson Dog Breaking 10 The unreasonableness of not always giving initiatory Lessons. Causes Blinking. 1865 Ibid. (ed. 4) 202 Some argue that blinking arises from a defective nose, not from punishment. 1897 H. Dalziel Brit. Dogs (ed. 2) III. 336 Blinking..is caused..by undue severity or punishment administered for chasing game or poultry. |
▪ II. ˈblinking, ppl. a.
[f. as prec. + -ing2.]
1. a. Looking with twinkling or half-open eyelids; winking; weak-eyed.
| 1568 T. Howell Arb. Amitie (1879) 29 A Furious God: an Archer blincking boy. 1596 Shakes. Merch. V. ii. ix. 54 The portrait of a blinking idiot. 1718 Pope Iliad ii. 264 One eye was blinking, and one leg was lame. 1870 Morris Earthly Par. III. iv. 39 Stood with blinking gaze Before a fire's unsteady blaze. |
b. Sc. Glancing pleasantly.
| 1724 Ramsay Tea-t. Misc. (1733) I. 90 Blinkin daft Barbara M'Leg. Ibid. II. 119 His blinkan eye and gate sae free. 1822 Scott Nigel xvii, Guided by one of these blinking Ganymedes. |
2. Shining dimly or intermittently, twinkling, flickering.
| 1681 Cotton Poet. Wks. (1765) 327 By a blinking and promiscuous light. 1785 Burns Cotter's Sat. Nt. iii, His wee bit ingle, blinkin bonilie. 1820 W. Irving Sketch Bk. I. 233 A solitary lamp to throw its blinking rays athwart his effigy. |
3. blinking chickweed; = blinks 2.
| 1775 Lightfoot Flora Scot. (1789) 110. |
4. Used as a substitute for a strong expletive. slang.
| 1914 Scotsman 12 Oct. 7/5 One..Guardsman..declared..that His Majesty seemed to carry the ‘blinking Army List in his 'ead’. 1927 Observer 21 Aug. 17/5 The type of golfer who..hurls the bag of clubs after it, accompanied by the remark, ‘Go on, have the blinking lot’. |