[f. as prec. + -ER1.]
1. One who blinks; a blinking or purblind person.
1636. Abp. J. Williams, Holy Table (1637), 219. He was but a blinker, and saw … but with half an eye.
a. 1704. T. Brown, Cupid turn’d T., Wks. 1730, I. 113. What does our sly graceless blinker?
1835. Browning, Paracel., I. 20. As earnest blinkers do Whom radiance ne’er distracted.
b. One who casts blinks or sly glances. Sc.
1786. Burns, Ep. to Mayor Logan, x. The witching, cursed, delicious blinkers Hae put me hyte.
2. pl. A kind of spectacles for directing the sight in one direction only, so as to cure squinting, or for protecting the eyes from cold, dust, etc.; = GOGGLES.
1732. M. Green, Grotto, 10 (R.). Bigots who but one way see Through blinkers of authority.
1803. Bristed, Pedest. Tour, I. 38. A little fellow, with blinkers over his eyes.
1851. Thackeray, Eng. Hum., iv. (1858), 205. Who only dare to look up at life through blinkers.
b. Leather screens attached to a horse’s bridle on each side, to prevent his seeing in any direction except straight ahead.
1789. W. Gilpin, Tour Lakes, II. 154 (R.). On being pressed by her friends … to go to court; ‘By no means,’ said she, ‘unless I may be allowed to wear blinkers.’
1861. G. M. Musgrave, By-roads & Battle-Fl., 174. An old female hostler, who gave us neither cruppers, blinkers, or breeching.
3. The eye. (slang.)
1816. ‘Quiz,’ Grand Master, I. 11. A patent pair of goggle winkers, Conceal’d from public view his blinkers.
Hence Blinkerless a. (sense 2 b.)
1861. Sydney Morn. Her., 23 Aug., 2/5. The horse that draws it has a blinkerless headstall, and a cart-saddle over which a thick chain passes, and the reins are made of rope.
1872. Daily News, 23 Oct., 5/5. The trotting-waggons, with their thin-spoked wheels and their fleet blinkerless horses.
