A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1375, 1475-1700+
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Wink, Wynk, v. Also: winke, vink, uink, wynke, vynk. P.t. also wonk. [ME and e.m.E. winke(n (Ancr. R.), wink (Cursor M.), wynk (1340), wynke (Chaucer), winke (Gower), winck (1582), OE wincian, MLG, MDu. winken.]
1. intr.a. To close the eyes. b. To close the eyes in sleep, to sleep, to doze. Also proverb.a., b. 1375 Barb. vii 182.
The king then wynkyt [C. vynkit] a litill wey, And slepyt nocht full encrely Bot gliffnyt wp oft sodanly a1500 Henr. Fab. 333.
Quhylis wald he [sc. the cat] wink [Bann. wynk, A. wynke], and play with hir buk heid; Thus to the selie mous grit pane he did a1500 Henr. Fab. 473.
He [sc. the cock] wald … Baith wink, and craw, and turne him thryis about a1500 Buke of the Sevyne Sagis 565.
First he wynkit syne fell on slepe a1508 Want of Wyse Men 22 (Ch. & M.).
For warldly wyn sik walkis, quhen wysar wynkis 15.. Wyf of Auchtirmuchty 76.
In scho schot hir mekle mow And ay scho winkit and scho drank a1570-86 Arbuthnot in Maitland Folio MS 52/94.
At feist and banket man I wink And at thame hant quhair I haue no delyteproverb. a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 965.
It is not for nocht, the cat winked
c. To close then open an eye (the eyes); to blink (in surprise, etc.); to look from one eye, to look around surreptitiously.a1500 Henr. Fab. 967.
His hude he drew far doun attoure his ene, And winkand with the ane eye furth he wend a1500 Lancelot of the Laik 1057.
When that he felt the vatter that vas cold, He wonk, and gan about hyme to behold c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace vi 468.
On athir side his eyne he gan to cast … Spyand full fast quhar his awaill suld be … [He] couth weyll luk and wynk with the ta e 1562-92 Wode's Psalter (Bass) 214.
He blinkit he winkit he lurkit he lowrd To sie as he jinkitt it vas a good bowrd a1689 Cleland 65.
Apply these to the kittle places, That makes you wink and throw your faces 1685 Sinclair Satan's Inv. World 96.
Then the recorder called for a long pin … and thrust the head of it into her nostrills to see if it would make her neese, wink, or bend her brows
2. fig.a. tr.To shut one's eyes to ((a person committing) a fault, wrong, etc.), to ignore, overlook; hence, to countenance, to tolerate. b. intr. Const. at and absol.a. 1562-3 Winȝet II 78/14.
He says, in an epistil quhilk he sendis to the preistis of the Gallis, repreuand that thai wynkit and bure with sum, leueand be thair silence the auld fayth without defence 1570 Satirical Poems xviii 58.
Trow ȝe … that God omnipotent Will wynk vnsene sic wickitnes and wrang? 1573 Davidson in Satirical Poems xli 137.
He was mair ȝour freind Nor thay that winkit or manteind Ȝour fulische factioun and vnfairb. pres. 1562-3 Winȝet I 92/4.
The quhilk names preist, sacrifice, and altar, the kirk of God hes vseit, sen the apostolis days, … quhilk thing ȝe misknaw nocht, albeit ȝe wink at the samin applauding to the tyme 1573 Davidson in Satirical Poems xl 374.
Call vpon God to strenthen ȝow alwayis … That ȝe may neuer wink at wickitnes a1600 Liturgy John Knox (1886) 42.
The civil sword is in the hand of God's magistrat, who nothwithstanding oft winkis at such crymes 1601 Reg. Privy C. VI 216.
Intending … to oursie and wink at the insolenceis and attemptis of the disorderit thevis and lymmaris for quhome he aucht to answer 1634 Wedderburn Gramm. 50.
Conniveo, to winke at anie thing 1638 Hamilton P. (Camden Soc.) 6.
To make knoen … hou fare your majestie … uill think itt [fit] to uink at ther madnesis 1655 Mouswald Kirk S. MS 9 Dec.
Whether or not they do wink at, or countinance the scandalous cariage of any within the congregatione 1703 Inverness Kirk S. 73.
That all such as are witnesses unto the like fault do not wink at them, but faithfully delate the same unto the magistratesp.t. a1500 Henr. Fab. 579.
I wes vnwyse that winkit at thy will, Quhairthrow almaist I loissit had my heid 1596 Dalr. II 249/8.
For throuch this our kingis authoritie appeiret sumthing to be diminished, that the Inglise king commandet him selfe to be named king ouer all Irland, … At this nottheles our king winket 1644 Strathbogie Presb. 47.
He and the Sessioun … vinked at greater faults … nor vas committed by hir c1650 Spalding II 159.
He behovit to cum to Scotland … quhilk the King beheld, and wynkit at his proceidinges, quhairof he had gottin sum knauledgep.p. 1567 Reg. Privy C. I 516.
Seing the saidis rebellis ourlukit and winkit at be sic as duellis maist ewest to thame 1572-5 Diurnal of Occurrents 168.
The craftismen of the said burgh … suspectit the magistratis … aither … to haue owersene the transporting of the samyne, or haue winkit thairat 1704 Old Ross-shire I 63.
Tho it be against som statutes of our visitation yet it is winked at when frends are concernedabsol. 1570 Satirical Poems xiii 167.
Thocht man wald wink, ȝit God, that all thing knawis, He will not leif this vile wark vnreuengit 1573 Davidson in Satirical Poems xlii 59.
Thocht for thair tyme sum wylie winkit The ages efter will forthinkit 1617 Despauter (1617) 109.
Conniveo, to winke or dissemble 1631 Select Biographies I 364.
Wink, and let the Lord work. Submit to His will, and He sall do better then ye can think
