[f. EYE sb.1 + WINK sb.] a. A wink or motion of the eye, a look or glance. b. The time it takes to wink the eye; an instant.

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  a.  1598.  Shaks., Merry W., II. ii. 72. They could neuer get an eye-winke of her.

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1818.  Keats, Endym., IV. 267. Before young Bacchus’ eye-wink turning pale.

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1868.  Browning, Ring & Bk., X. 921. ’Twixt her placid eyewinks.

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  b.  1879.  Chr. Rossetti, Seek & F., 88. Until all time dwindle to a mere eye-wink.

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1890.  Daily News, 27 Jan., 3/1. You touch a tiny switch on the opera-glass-like object, and in an eye wink your glass buttonhole becomes an incandescent lamp.

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  Similarly Eye-winker, eyelash or eyelid.

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1808.  Jamieson, Ee-winkers the eye-lashes.

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a. 1833.  A. Picken, Changeable Charlie. The burley scoundrel lifted up his eye-winkers.

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1881.  Pennsylv. School Jrnl., XXX. 57. Every … hair and eye-winker, revolving ‘on its own hook.’

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