[f. as prec. + -ING1.] The action of the verb BLENCH: † a. Turning to one side, swerving, shying; † b. turning away of the eyes (? blinking, winking); c. flinching, quailing, loss of courage.
1393. Gower, Conf., III. 8. I stonde still, withoute blenching of min eye.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., II. v. (1495), 32. Angels … beholde streyght … in god … wythout blenchynge of theyr eyen. Ibid., XII. xxxix. (1495), 436. The reremous fleeth in the eue tyde wyth brekynge and blenchynge and swyfte meuynge.
1868. Doran, Saints & Sinners, II. 186. He saw without blenching the rope by which he was to be strangled.
