An Etymological Dictionary of the Scottish Language Part 86

4. A gleam of prosperity, during adversity.

_G.o.dscroft._

5. Also transferred to a glance, a stroke of the eye, or transient view of any object; the idea being borrowed, either from the quick transmission of the rays of light, or from the short-lived influence of the sun when the sky is much obscured with clouds, S.

_Douglas._

6. A kindly glance, a transient glance expressive of regard, S.

_Burns._

7. A moment. "I'll not stay a _blink_," I will return immediately. _In a blink_, in a moment, S.

_Ramsay._

Su. G. _blink_, _oegonblink_, is a glance, a cast of the eye, oculi nictus; Germ. _blick_, Belg. _blik_, _oogenblik_, id.; the twinkling of the eye, a moment.

BLENT, _pret._ Glanced, expressing the quick motion of the eye.

_Gawan and Gol._

Perhaps allied to Su. G. _bliga_, _blia_, intentis oculis aspicere, q. _bligent_.

BLENT, _s._ A glance.

_Douglas._

BLENT, _pret._ Lost, as applied to sight.

_King's Quair._

Perhaps from A. S. _blent_, the part. of A. S. _blend-ian_, caecare, used in a neuter sense; or from A. S. _blinn-an_, cessare, whence _blind_, deficiens.

BLENTER, _s._ A flat stroke; Fife.

Alem. _bliuun_, to strike; _bliuenti_, percutiens, striking; Schilter. Moes. G. _bliggwan_, id.

_To_ BLETHER, BLATHER, _v. n._

1. To speak indistinctly, to stammer, S. p.r.o.n. like _fair_.

2. To prattle, S.

Su. G. _bladdr-a_, Germ, _plauder-n_, to prattle, to chatter, to jabber; Teut. _blater-en_, stulte loqui; Lat. _blater-are_, to babble.

_To_ BLETHER, BLATHER, BLADDER, _v. a._ To talk nonsensically, S.

_Lyndsay._

BLETHERAND, _pret._

_Fordun._

Allied perhaps to Teut. _blater-en_, _blaeter-en_, proflare fastum, gloriari.

BLETHER, BLATHER, _s._ Nonsense, foolish talk, S.; often used in pl.

_Hamilton._

BLAIDRY, _s._ Nonsense, foolish talk.

_Ramsay._

BLEW. _To look blew_, to seem disconcerted. It conveys both the idea of astonishment and of gloominess, S.

_Peblis to the Play._

_Blew_, S. is often synon. with _blae_, livid.

BLICHAM, _s._ (gutt.) A contemptuous designation for a person, Perths.

BLICHT, _adj._ An epithet expressive of the coruscation of armour, in the time of action.

_Houlate._

A. S. _blic-an_, coruscare; _blect_, coruscatus. Alem. _blechet_, Germ. _blicket_, splendet.

_To_ BLIN, BLYN, BLYNE, _v. n._ To cease, to desist, S.; also _blind_.

_Wallace._

A. S. _blinn-an_, cessare, contr. from _bilinn-an_, id. In Isl. and Su. G. it occurs in its simple form, _linn-a_, also, _lind-a_, id.

_To_ BLIN, _v. a._ To cause to cease.