Wink v.¹

Forms: 1 wincian, 3 winken, 4–6 wynk(e, 4–7 winke, winck, 6–7 wincke, (4 Sc. vynk, 5 wynkyn, pa. t. wanke, wonk, 6 wynck(e, 9 pa. t. and pa. pple. wunk), 4– wink. [OE. wincian wk. vb. = OS. wincon to nod, MLG., MDu. winken, related to OHG. winchan str. vb. (MHG., G. winken) to move sideways, stagger, nod; cf. OHG. winch (MHG. winc, G. wink) m. nod, OE. wince WINCH sb.¹: f. Teut. wiŋk-, older weŋk-:—Indo-Eur. weŋg-.

  Other formations on the base wiŋk- (weŋk-): waŋk:—weŋg-: woŋg, to move sideways or from side to side, are OHG. wanc, wanch, MHG. wanc turning, return, instability, OS., OHG. wankôn (MLG., MDu., MHG. wanken); OHG. wenkan, OS. wenkean to waver, vacillate (MLG. MDu. Du. wenken to nod), whence OF. guenchir WINCH v.¹; Lith. véngiu to do unwillingly, avoid, vangùs inactive, vìngis m. bend, curve, Albanian vank (vang-) felloe. See also WANKLE a., WENCHEL.

  Examples of a strong conjugation in English (pa. t. wank, wonk) are very rare. The modern pa. t. and pa. pple. wunk are jocular.]

  † 1.  intr. To close one’s eyes. (Also in fig. context: cf. 5, 6.) Obs.

c. 897.  K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past. C., xxxix. 287. Se stæpð forð mid ðam fotum & wincaþ mid ðæm eaʓum [orig. oculos claudit].

c. 1000.  Ælfric, Gram., xxvi. (Z.), 156. Ic winciʓe, conniueo.

a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 288. Hwon þe heorte draweð lust into hire, ase þing þet were amased, & foð on ase to winken & forte laten þene ueond iwurðen.

c. 1374.  Chaucer, Troylus, III. 1537. Al for nought he may wel lygge and wynke But slep ne may þere in his herte synke. Ibid. (c. 1386), Nun’s Pr. T., 486. He wolde so peyne hym, that with bothe hise eyen He moste wynke, so loude he wolde cryen. Ibid., 611. For he that wynketh whan he sholde see, Al wilfully god lat him neuere thee.

1390.  Gower, Conf., I. 54. For ofte, who that hiede toke, Betre is to winke than to loke.

c. 1480.  Henryson, Two Mice, 333. Quhylis wald he lat hir rin vnder the stra; Quylis wald he wink, and play with hir buk heid.

c. 1500.  in Rel. Ant., I. 289. Sore me for-thinked, that I so moche wynked, For had I never more nede than nowe for to loke.

a. 1542.  Wyatt, in Tottel’s Misc. (Arb.), 57. For cause your self do wink, Ye iudge all other blinde.

1562.  [see WINKING ppl. a. 1].

1584.  Lyly, Campaspe, V. iv. 4. Though I winke, I sleepe not.

1611.  Shaks., Cymb., V. iv. 194. There are none want eyes, to direct them the way I am going, but such as winke, and will not vse them.

1621.  in Kempe, Losely MSS. (1836), 454. When you see y^m [sc. the nuns] they must winke and not speake to you.

a. 1631.  Donne, Serm., John x. 10 (1640), 70. That man that is blinde, or that will winke, shall see no more sunne upon S. Barnabies day, then upon S. Lucies.

1633.  G. Herbert, Temple, Collar, 26. Good cable, to enforce and draw, And be thy law, While thou didst wink and wouldst not see.

1664.  Tillotson, Wisdom of being religious, 44. Men are not blind, but they wink, and shut their eyes; they can understand, and will not.

1700.  S. L., trans. Fryke’s Voy. E. Ind., 236. I open’d my Eyes … and [they] said, it was high time for me to open ’em; for if I had winck’d but a little longer, over I had gone.

1784.  Cowper, Tiroc., 255. To follow foolish precedents, and wink With both our eyes, is easier than to think.

1816.  Scott, Bl. Dwarf, v. I thought I saw him still, though I winked as close as ever I could.

  Winking pr. pple.: with the eyes shut (or blindfolded).

c. 1375.  Cursor M., 23462 (Fairf.). Als wele þen saltow se Wincande als wiþ opin eye.

1390.  Gower, Conf., II. 189. Thoas … Whan Anthenor this Juel tok, Wynkende caste awei his lok.

1538.  Elyot, Dict., Addit., Andabatę, certayne men that faughte with swordes wynkynge.

1599.  Shaks., Hen. V., V. ii. 332. Burg. They are then excus’d, my Lord, when they see not what they doe. King. Then good my Lord, teach your Cousin to consent winking.

  † b.  Said of the eyes, occas. transf. of other things: To close. Obs. or rare arch.

  In quots. 1598, 1898, said of the closing of the day.

1340.  Hampole, Pr. Consc., 4970. In als short whyle als hert may thynk, Or mans eghe may open or wynk.

1576.  Gascoigne, Steele Glas, 683. That one eye winks, as though it were but blynd.

1577.  Grange, Golden Aphrod., I ij. Yet coulde he not perswade himselfe whether he dreamed … (although he knew of a certentie his eyes winked not).

1598.  Mucedorus, IV. i. 38. The christall eye of Heauen shall not thrise wincke,… Till we salute the Aragonian King.

1642.  H. More, Song of Soul, II. I. II. i. While the Evening keen With sharper air doth make his pores to wink.

1649.  Davenant, Love & Honour, III. iv. 44. Where shadows vanish when the world’s eye wincks Behind a cloud.

1898.  Meredith, Odes Fr. Hist., 69. The sister Hours … Are gone on flow with the day that winked, With the night that spanned at golden gates.

  † c.  In association with drinking off at a draught.

1548.  Elyot, Dict., Amystis, a … drynke, which the Thracians vsed to drynke vp at one draughte, wynkyng.

15[?].  Wyf of Auchtirmwchty, 76, in Bannatyne MS. (Hunter. Club), 344. Ay scho winkit and scho drank.

1692.  Bentley, Boyle Lect., ii. 37. And yet these same cautious and quick-sighted Gentlemen can wink and swallow down this sottish Opinion about Percipient Atoms.

  2.  To open and shut one’s eyes momentarily and involuntarily; to blink, nictitate.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 341. All his comament was don, Suiftliker þen hee may wink.

c. 1440.  Promp. Parv., 530/1. Wynkyn, idem quod twynkelyn.

a. 1450.  Knt. de la Tour, xii. She loked smal and wynked ofte,… euer beting her eyelyddes togedre.

c. 1500.  Lancelot, 1038. When that he felt the vatter that vas cold, He wonk, and gan about hyme to behold.

1582.  Stanyhurst, Æneis, IV. (Arb.), 108. At my tears showring dyd he sigh? dyd he winck with his eyelyd?

1649.  Jer. Taylor, Gt. Exemp., II. Disc. ix. 122. It is impossible to prevent them … any more than we can refuse to winke with our eye when a sudden blow is offered at it.

1703.  Lond. Gaz., No. 3892/4. Robert Stephens,… Stammering Speech, winks on the left Eye.

1819.  Shelley, Cyclops, 631. Dare not to breathe, Or spit, or e’en wink, lest ye wake the monster.

1842.  Dickens, Amer. Notes, iii. The white wooden houses (so white that it makes one wink to look at them). Ibid. (1853), Bleak Ho., xxi. He … adjusts his skull-cap with such a rub, that the old man winks with both eyes for a minute afterwards.

1916.  Q. Rev., July, 227. When there is a loud report close at hand we instinctively wink.

  b.  Said of the eyes or eyelids: To blink. Also occas. of other things: To open and shut quickly. Now rare.

1661.  Lovell, Hist. Anim. & Min., Isagoge b 3. Amongst Birds … The eyes, are as those of other creatures,… but they winke, a membrane passing from the angle.

1668.  Culpepper & Cole, Barthol. Anat., II. vii. 111. The trebble-pointed valves do not only wink, but they are close shut by the blood distending the Heart.

1710.  J. Clarke, trans. Rohault’s Nat. Philos., I. xxxv. When we look upon a lighted Candle at a little Distance with our Eyes winking.

1814.  Scott, Ld. of Isles, VI. xv. The eye-lid scarce had time to wink.

1905.  A. T. Sheppard, Red Cravat, I. ii. 24. The eyes winked-to again and closed for ever.

  c.  Of a light, a burning or glowing object, etc.: To emit quick intermittent flashes; to twinkle. (Now associated with sense 8.)

1591.  Sylvester, Du Bartas, I. ii. 665. Like as a coal, that winkt [orig. qui dort] On a stick’s end (and seemed quite extinct).

a. 1633.  Austin, Medit. (1635), 81. [The Light of Nature] is no Starre indeed, but a Candle: and … it winkes in the Socket too.

1707.  E. Smith, Phædra & Hippolitus, I. i. 5. Feed with new Oil the wasting Lamp of Life, That winks and trembles, now, just now expiring.

1802.  Wordsw., Sonn., ‘Fair star of evening.’ Thou … shouldst wink, Bright Star! with laughter on her banners.

1820.  Keats, To a Nightingale, ii. A beaker … With beaded bubbles winking at the brim.

1848.  Thackeray, Lett., Nov. The candles are just winking out.

1851.  Meredith, Love in Valley, xvii. A rill where on sand the minnows wink.

1876.  Miss Braddon, J. Haggard’s Dau., x. The polished grate winking and twinkling in the red light from a neat little fire.

1883.  Hardy, Wessex Tales (1888), I. 16. Beyond all this winked a few bleared lamplights through the beating drops.

  † 3.  To have the eyes closed in sleep; to sleep; sometimes, to doze, slumber. Obs.

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, VII. 182. The kyng than vynkit a litill we.

1412–20.  Lydg., Chron. Troy, IV. 2384. Ofte he waketh whan he sholde winke.

c. 1430.  How Wise Man Tauȝt his Sonne, 72, in Babees Bk., 50. And go to bedde bi tymes, & wynke.

c. 1480.  Henryson, Want of Wyse Men, 22. For warldly wyn sik walkis, quhen wysar wynkis.

1535.  Goodly Primer, L ij b (Ps. cxxi. 4). Loo, neyther wyll he slepe, nor yet ons wynke, that kepeth Israell.

1553.  Respublica, 1135. Repose yourselfe, Madame, a while & winke.

1602.  Fulbecke, 1st Pt. Parall., 19. Yes, our law in this case hath not either slumbred or winked.

1610.  Shaks., Temp., II. i. 216. Thou let’st thy fortune sleepe: die rather: wink’st Whiles thou art waking.

1616.  T. Scot, Philomythie, B 6 b. When others soundly sleep, he must but winke.

1649.  J. Taylor (Water P.), Wand. Wonders West, 8. Wearinesse … began to inforce sleep upon me, so that … I began to winke.

  † 4.  To close one eye, as in aiming at a target; hence, to aim: usually to wink with the one or the other eye. Obs.

c. 1340.  Nominale (Skeat), 180. Homme doile clune, M[an] with ee wynkyth.

c. 1460.  Frere & Boye (Ritson), 89. Yf thou shote and wynke, The prycke thow shalt hylle.

c. 1480.  Henryson, Trial of Fox, 959. His Hude he drew laich attour his Ene, And, winkand with ane Eye, furth he wend.

1530.  Palsgr., 782/2. He that wynketh with one eye and loketh with the tother, I wyll nat trust hym and he were my brother.

1538.  Elyot, Dict., Collimare, to wynke with one eye.

1594.  Blundevil, Exerc., Navig., xxii. (1597), 329. Mooue the Transame … vntil you may see with the one eye (winking with y^e other) the one end of the transame to meete iust with the centre … of the Sun.

1638.  Sir T. Herbert, Trav. (ed. 2), 20. The Arimaspi (who from wincking when they shoot are said to be Monoculi).

a. 1680.  Butler, Rem., Satyr Imperfect. Hum. Learn., I. 55. As Men, that wink with one Eye, see more true, And take their Aim much better, than with two.

  5.  To ‘shut one’s eyes’ to something faulty, wrong or improper; to be complaisant. (Now rare exc. as in 6.)

c. 1480.  Henryson, Cock & Fox, 571. I wes vnwyse that winkit at thy will.

1562.  Cooper, Answ. Def. Truth, 61 b. Some learned and holy men for the time did winke and beare with suche thinges.

1633.  G. Herbert, Temple, Miserie, xi. And yet as though he knew it not, His knowledge winks and lets his humours reigne.

1781.  Cowper, Expost., 256. Too just to wink, or speak the guilty clear.

1859.  Tennyson, Vivien, 630. Is he man at all, who knows and winks?

1861.  Reade, Cloister & H., xlvi. Many is the time I have winked and wouldn’t see too much.

  b.  Phr. To wink hard. Now rare or Obs.

1620.  Quarles, Feast for Wormes, iii. Med. iii. 38. Hard must he winke, that shuts his eyes from heau’n.

1790.  Burns, Prol. Suthld., 40. And aiblins when they winna stand the test, Wink hard and say the folks hae done their best!

1831.  Scott, Ct. Robt., ii. The Emperor, who will rather wink hard than see disagreements.

1866.  Geo. Eliot, F. Holt, ii. Jermyn must be his [election-]agent; Harold must wink hard till he found himself safely returned.

  6.  a. To wink at. (a) To ‘shut one’s eyes to’ (an offence, fault, defect, impropriety or irregularity); to connive at.

1537.  Cromwell, in Merriman, Life & Lett. (1902), II. 108. Persons that … by … wynkyng at his preparacions … encoraged hym to be the bolder.

1540.  Elyot, Image Gov., xxxiii. (1541), 76 b. Ye secretely winkyng at the sayd faultes.

1644.  Milton, Judgm. Bucer, xlvii. 24. When as all kind of unchastity is tolerated, fornications and adulteries winkt at.

a. 1708.  T. Ward, Eng. Ref., I. (1710), 112. If I this saucyness in you, Shou’d seem to wink-at or allow.

1775.  Sheridan, Rivals, III. iii. Suppose you were to wink at her corresponding with him for a little time.

1815.  Scott, Guy M., xxxiv. You had the price of half a cargo for winking at our job.

1861.  T. A. Trollope, La Beata, I. ix. 250. A very evident tendency … to wink at the shortcomings of their friends.

  (b)  To disregard, overlook, pass unnoticed (a fact or occurrence). Now rare or Obs.

1535.  Joye, Apol. Tindale (Arb.), 32. He stretched forth his penne agenst me as farre as he dirst,… at the whiche chaleng I winked.

1568.  Bible (Bishops’), Acts xvii. 30. And the tyme of this ignoraunce God wyncked at.

a. 1656.  Bp. Hall, Rem. Wks. (1660), 371. We do willingly wink at the rest of the differences of like nature.

1691.  The Weesils, Postscr. 13. Some, who, I am afraid, byas’d by Interest, either wink at, or absolutely forget her admirable, tho plain Principles.

1848.  Schomburgk, Ralegh’s Discov. Guiana (Hakl. Soc.), 172. It is … evident that they winked at consequences which they must have foreseen.

  † (c)  To be complaisant with (an offending or contumacious person); to connive at the doings of.

1567.  Reg. Privy Council Scot., I. 516. Seing the saidis rebellis ourlukit and winkit at be sic as duellis maist ewest to thame.

1605.  Shaks., Macb., I. iv. 52. Let not Light see my black and deepe desires: The Eye winke at the Hand.

1674.  Jackson’s Recantation, C 2. My other two Comerades [in thieving] lay in an Inn where they … were winkt at by the Master of the House.

1703.  De Foe, More Reform., 37. Thou art blam’d for Winking at a L · · d Whose Rapes and Vices stand upon Record.

  † b.  (a) To wink on, upon: = a (a), above. Obs.

1546.  J. Heywood, Prov. (1867), 19. She can wynke on the yew, and wery the lam.

1591.  Shaks., Two Gent., II. iv. 98. Vpon a homely obiect, Loue can winke.

1634.  Milton, Comus, 401. You may as well … bid me hope Danger will wink on Opportunity.

1824.  Landor, Imag. Conv., I. Cromwell & Noble, 59. I acknowledge his weaknesses, and cannot wink upon his crimes.

1835.  Lytton, Rienzi, I. v. Justice must never wink upon great offenders.

  † (b)  To wink against: = a (b), above. Obs.

1653.  H. More, Antid. Ath., III. xv. § 4. He that denies this seems to me wilfully to wink against the light of Nature.

1741.  Watts, Improv. Mind, I. i. (1786), 21. Having asserted his former opinions in a most confident manner, he is tempted now to wink a little against the truth.

  † c.  trans. = a (a), above. Obs. rare.

1570.  Satir. Poems Reform., xviii. 58. Trow ȝe … that God omnipotent Will wynk vnsene sic wickitnes and wrang?

1695.  Kennett, Par. Antiq., ix. 301. This cheat was winkt in the times of ignorance.

  † 7.  intr. To give a significant glance, as of command, direction or invitation: usually const. on, upon, later to, at. Obs.

c. 1100.  Gloss., in Wr.-Wülcker, 118/15. Annicio uel annuto, ic wincie.

13[?].  Minor Poems of Vernon MS., xxxvii. 680. Whon þei comen togedere, eiþer on oþer wynkeþ.

1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. IV. 152. I seiȝe mede in the moot-halle on men of lawe wynke, And þei lawghyng lope to hire. Ibid., XIII. 85. Pacience perceyued what I thouȝt, and wynked on me to be stille.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Sqr.’s T., 340. The Norice of digestioun the sleepe Gan on hem wynke.

c. 1400.  Gamelyn, 453. Whan I wynke on the loke for to gone.

14[?].  K. Edw. & Shepherd, in Hartshorne, Metr. T. (1829), 79. Oure kyng on the schepherde wanke, Priuely with his eye.

c. 1520.  Skelton, Magnyf., 2023. Syr, remembre the tourne of Fortunes whele, That wantonly can wynke, and wynche with her hele.

1530.  Palsgr., 782/2. He hath wynked upon me thrise, what so ever he meaneth.

1552.  Huloet, Wyncke at one, adnicto.

1599.  Shaks., Hen. V., V. ii. 333. I will winke on her to consent, my Lord.

1623.  Middleton, More Dissemblers, III. i. Then cast she up Her pretty eye and wink’d.

1640.  trans. Verdere’s Rom. of Rom., II. xxxiii. 124. She winked to him, whereupon he approaching with a great deal of respect unto the Queen [etc.].

1671.  Caryl, Sir Salomon, II. 30. Why could not you tell me on’t? Single. I wincked, and wincked upon you, and did all that I could.

1711.  Addison, Spect., No. 57, ¶ 7. I winked upon my Friend to take his Leave.

1782.  Mme. D’Arblay, Diary, 4 Nov. Mrs. Thrale winked at him to give up the place.

1819.  Sporting Mag. (N. S.), IV. 236. Davis winked to his friends that it was all right.

1821.  Moncrieff, Tom & Jerry, II. iii. 43. Winking at me not to take any notice.

1835.  Dickens, Sk. Boz, Astley’s. Ma having first nodded and winked to the governess to pull the girls’ frocks a little more off their shoulders.

  † b.  ? To ‘give the tip.’ Obs. rare.

c. 1460.  Towneley Myst., xii. 244. Haue good aylle of hely; bewar now, I wynk, For and thou drynk drely, in thy polle wylle it synk.

  † c.  transf. To make a sign. Obs. rare.

1738.  [G. Smith], Curious Relat., II. 337. The Image of Sichæus which stands on the Altar, winks with its Hand.

  † d.  trans. To bring into a specified state by a glance or nod. Obs.

1633.  G. Herbert, Temple, Home, vii. What is this womankinde, which I can winke Into a blacknesse and distaste?

1728.  Swift, Jrnl. Mod. Lady, 193. They … Convey a Libel in a Frown, Or wink a Reputation down.

  † e.  phr. Wink all hid [see HIDE v.¹ 1 e, and cf. OF. clignemusset]: hide-and-seek. Obs.

1609.  J. Davies, Humour’s Heaven, II. iv. so that he did Driue them from dancing vnto Winck-all-hid.

  8.  intr. To close one eye momentarily, in a flippant or frivolous manner, esp. to convey intimate information or to express good-humored interest.

1837.  Dickens, Pickw., xxxiii. Mr. Weller … winked so indefatigably … that Sam began to think he must have got the tic doloureux in his right eye-lid. Ibid. (1838), Nich. Nick., xvi. He winked towards Nicholas with a degree of familiarity which he, no doubt, intended for a rather flattering compliment.

1886.  Kipling, Departm. Ditties, etc. (1888), 73. An’ Jock be sniggered, an’ Jock he smiled, An’ ower the card-brim wunk.

1912.  G. B. Shaw, Pygmalion, II. 142. He winks at Higgins, thinking him probably a fellow-sufferer from Mrs. Pearce’s difficult disposition.

  9.  trans. To close (an eye, the eyes) for a moment, either voluntarily (sense 8) or involuntarily (sense 3).

  Colloq. phr. To wink the other eye, to treat what has been said with flippant disregard.

1838.  Buckstone, Shocking Events, 11. Hollo! hollo! he’s winking his eye at my maid.

1846.  G. P. R. James, Step-mother, liv. III. 8. I shouldn’t have winked an eye all night if you hadn’t been here.

1849.  Thackeray, Pendennis, xxv[i]. Lady Clavering, giving the young gentleman a delighted tap with her fan, winked her black eyes at him.

1872.  Earl Pembroke & G. H. Kingsley, S. Sea Bubbles, viii. 228. There was my princess … winking winks that ought never to have been wunk.

1883.  D. C. Murray, Hearts, xiv. Lording’s eyes tingled with tears. He winked both eyes together and blew his nose with violence.

1898.  ‘H. S. Merriman,’ Roden’s Corner, xxxii. The lighthouse winked a glaring eye that seemed to stare over their heads far out to sea.

  b.  To wink away: to remove (tears) by blinking one’s eyes.

1876.  Miss Broughton, Joan, II. i. Joan, trying to smile, and to wink away the two large tears that have rushed to her eyes.

1892.  Mrs. S. Batson, Dark, I. v. 105. She winked away a few hot tears of shame that rose to her eyes.

  c.  To move swiftly, cause to flicker like an eyelid.

1883.  Bridges, Prometheus, 1464. Like butterflies, that … upon a wall Winking their idle fans at pleasure sit.

1897.  S. Crane, Third Violet, xxviii. 190–1. He told me you swore like a drill-sergeant if the model winked a finger at the critical time.

  d.  To give (a signal), express (a message), etc., by means of flashlights.

1918.  Glasgow Herald, 22 Nov., 5. Their flagship’s great … eye of flame winking out a message. Ibid. (1919), 21 April, 7. H.M.S. Glory … winked us welcome from the mast-head.