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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BLINTER, v. and n.

I. v.

1. To glimmer, to flicker.Mry., Abd. 1825 Jam.²:
Blinter. To shine feebly, or with an unsteady flame, like a candle going out.Abd. 1824 G. Smith Douglas, etc. 35; Abd.², Abd.⁹ 1935:
Will o' the wisp was blintrin' in the vale.Abd. 1995 Flora Garry Collected Poems 29:
An faar's wir fisher toon? Ae lum, ae gaivel
Blinterin throwe blae watter an smore drift.Ags. 1929 J. S. Buist in Scots Mag. (May) 151:
The firelicht blintered on her face.

ppl.adj. blinterin', brintrin, blinking, flickering.ne.Sc. 1929 M. W. Simpson Day's End 14:
An' the blinterin' starnies winner an' glower.m.Sc. 1976 Walter Perrie A Lamentation for the Children (1977) 11:
... an set oot in a blinterin dawn ...Ags. 1988 Raymond Vettese The Richt Noise 101:
wi glore that's won thro blinks and aeons
frae dreicher blintrin moments -

2. “To bring the eye-lids close to the pupil of the eye, in consequence of a defect of vision [or as a result of internal or external stimulus] . . . to blink” (Mry., Abd. 1825 Jam.²).Bch. 1804 W. Tarras Poems 20:
That he's acquaint wi' ane like you; Whase lilts wad gar a Quaker blinter.

ppl.adj. blint'rin', short-sighted; blinking.Nai. 1828 W. Gordon Poems 241:
My blint'rin' een I rubb'd them sair.Abd.(D) 1916 G. Abel Wylins fae my Wallet 139:
As airm in airm they brocht their blint'rin' brither back to hame.

Hence blinterer, “a person with weak eyes” (Bnff.² 1935; Abd. 1905 E.D.D. Suppl.).

II. n. The shimmering haze often seen in the strong heat of summer.Bch. 1804 W. Tarras Poems 22:
An' fend the heat o' simmer's blinter.