subs. (colloquial).—1. The eye: WINKER; PEEPER; OPTICS, etc. Hence ‘blank your blinkers!’ = Damn your eyes!
1809. MALKIN, Gil Blas [ROUTLEDGE], 175. The master appeared in person; which stretched the old fellow’s BLINKERS into a stare.
1816. QUIZ, Grand Master, I., ii.
| A patent pair of goggle winkers, | |
| Conceal’d from public view his BLINKERS. |
1888. American Humorist. ‘BLANK YOUR BLINKERS,’ angrily retorted Brudee, ‘your business was not to fight, but show us the enemy.’
2. (common).—In pl. = spectacles: see BARNACLES.
1732. M. GREEN, The Grotto, 10.
| Nor bigots who but one way see | |
| Through BLINKERS of authority. |
1803. JOHN BRISTED, Ανθρωπλανομενος; or a Pedestrian Tour through Part of the Highlands of Scotland in 1801, I., 38. A little fellow, with BLINKERS over his eyes.
1851. THACKERAY, English Humourists, IV. (1858), 205. Who only dare to look up at life through BLINKERS.
3. (provincial).—A black eye.
4. (pugilistic).—A hard blow (or DIG, q.v.) in the eye.
5. (provincial).—A term of contempt. (HALLIWELL).
