Sc. [The meaning and origin of belly here is uncertain: it may possibly = billie ‘fellow, comrade.’ Belly Blind or more commonly Billie Blin’ is the name of ‘a serviceable household demon of a decidedly benignant disposition’ in several Scottish ballads: see Child, Eng. and Sc. Pop. Ballads, I. 67, where the name is discussed and compared with Du. belewitte, Ger. bilwisz, and other Teutonic words of kindred use. But the connection between these and the sense of belly-blind below is not obvious.] A blind-folded person; esp. in the game of Blindman’s Buff; hence used as a name for that game, also (as in first quot.) for ‘Hide and Seek.’
c. 1450. Henryson, Mor. Fab., 77. Thou playes belly blind, Wee seeke all night, but nothing can wee finde.
c. 1510. Adv. Luvairs, Sum led is lyk the belly-blind With luve.
