▪ I. blate, a. Sc. and north. dial.
(bleɪt, dial. bleːt, blɪət)
Also 6 blait, 7 bleat(e, bleit.
[Found in Sc. late in 15th c. It answers phonetically to OE. blát livid, pale, ghastly; but the connexion of meaning, though possible, is not attested by the evidence. The general sense since 16th c. is ‘blunt,’ ‘not sharp or ready’ in feeling, courage, discernment, manner, action, etc. (Connexion with OE. bléat miserable, wretched, is not justified: still less with bléað soft, weak, timid. These words gave blete, blethe, in ME.)]
† 1. Pale, ghastly. (In OE. In the second quotation the sense is quite uncertain: cf. sense 3.)
| c 1000 in Cod. Vercell. i. (1843) 63 Hungres on wenum blates beodgæstes. c 1450 Henryson Mor. Fabl. 34 The fauour of thy face, For thy defence is foule and disfigurate, Brought to the light, blased, blunt, and blate. |
† 2. Void of feeling, physically insensible, feelingless. (Perhaps, like a dead body). Obs.
| 1513 Douglas æneis i. viii. 129 The Phenitianis nane sa blait breistis hes. a 1548 Thrie Priests Peblis in Pinkerton (1792) I. 29 (Jam.) In sa far as the saull is forthy Far worthier than the blait body. |
† 3. Void of spirits, abashed, having the courage blunted or daunted, spiritless, timid. Obs.
| 1535 Stewart Cron. Scot. II. 632 Als blait and basit as ane scheip. Ibid. 639 So blunt, so blait, berand himself so law. a 1560 Rolland Crt. Venus Prol. 55 Soft, blait, and blunt, of curagon. |
4. Not ‘sharp’ in discernment, stupid.
| [1513 see blately.] 1581 N. Burne Disput. 96 b (Jam.) As the Italianis had bene sa blait, that they culd nocht discerne betuix ane man and ane woman. 1811 Statist. Acc. Nairn & Moray (Jam.) Blate, easily deceived. |
† 5. Blunt in manner, curt. Obs.
| 1663 in Spalding Troub. Chas. I (1792) I. 143 (Jam.) They got a bleat answer, and so tint their travel. |
6. Bashful, backward, esp. from natural diffidence or awkwardness; slow to come forward or assert oneself; diffident, sheepish, shamefaced.
| c 1600 Rob. Hood (Ritson) i. iii. 40 If they have supt e'er I come in, I will look wondrous blate. 1674 Ray N.C. Wds. Coll., A toom purse makes a bleit Merchant. Scot. Prov. 1725 Ramsay Gent. Sheph. i. i, Be nae blate, Push bauldly on and win the day. 1787 Burns Ep. Mrs. Scott 1 When I was beardless, young, and blate. 1808 Cumbr. Ballads xxix. 67 I' God's neame step forret; nay, dunnet be bleate. 1823 Scott Quentin D. II. xiv. You are not blate—you will never lose fair lady for faint heart. 1865 Cornh. Mag. Mar. 328 He's ‘no blate,’ as they used to say in Scotland, and made himself quite at home to-night. |
† 7. Of a fight, a market: Dull, slow. Obs.
| 1597–1605 Montgomerie Poems (1821) 46 But ȝit his batill will be blate, Gif he our forss refuse. 1768 Ross Helenore 55 (Jam.) Gang hame again? Na, na, That were my hogs to a blate fair to ca'. |
Hence ˈblately adv., ˈblateness.
| 1513 Douglas æneis Prol. 251 The last sax buikis of Virgill..Caxtoun sa blaitlie lettis ourslip. 1823 Galt Entail III. iii. 41 It will be ill put-on blateness. |
▪ II. blate, v. rare.
(bleɪt)
[A late word, perhaps arising out of bleat (sense 2 b), influenced by blatant. Bleat was formerly pronounced (bleːt), as in great.]
trans. and intr. To babble, prate, give mouth (about), talk blatantly.
| 1666 Pepys Diary (1879) IV. 46 He blates to me what has passed between other people and him. 1878 R. W. Gilder, Poet & Master 38 They peddle their petty schemes, and blate and babble and groan. |
▪ III. blate
var. of bleat, cry like a sheep.