blinkle

English

Etymology

From blink +‎ -le (frequentative suffix).

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ɪŋkəl

Verb

blinkle (third-person singular simple present blinkles, present participle blinkling, simple past and past participle blinkled)

1. To blink repeatedly
   • 1791, Presbyterio-Catholicon:

     Hot, and precipitate, and zealous, as has been the assiduity, with which the public eye is blinkled by this glittering putrescence of rotten policy, and the public ear is deaffened by a vapid and senseless jargon of political bombast, [...]

   • 1871, Jean Charles Du Boys, The Countess of Monte-Cristo:

     His eyes perpetually blinkling after the fashion of near-sighted people, and an in convenient deafness, which furnished a good pretext to call for a repetition when he did not choose to hear, and a stammering which admitted of reflection when it was necessary, [...]

   • 1897, Annie Fellows Johnston, Ole Mammy's Torment:

     The silence brought John Jay to his senses. He crawled along the aisle and out of the door, blinkling like an owl as he came into the blinding sunshine.

   • 1915, Howard Roger Garis, Uncle Wiggily Longears:

     There came a twinkle into his red eyes, and even his nose blinkled and twinkled, [...]

   • 1955, Remus Luca, Ana Nucu:

     On a bench near the wall, Ion Hurdubet and Petrea Nucu were waiting for their wives: Ion's eyelids were blinkling wearily.

   • 2007, Charlee Jacob, The Indigo People: A Vampire Collection:

     They didn't wheeze from internal motion nor blinkle from synapses throbbing on impulse power. But they were cold—initially. Diamond veins traced just below a mesh that convinced of suppleness.

   • 2008, Lori Z. Scott, Meghan Rose All Dressed Up:

     Because when her eyes twinkle and blinkle with excitement, her wrinkles crinkle up into a smile.

   • 2009, Joan Wolf, The Poisoned Serpent:

     The two women on horseback passed by directly in front of Alan, and for a moment he could have sworn that the Lady Elizabeth looked directly into his eyes. He blinkled, utterly dazzled. Her eyes were a brilliant green.