Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
BLUNK, n.2 Also blounk. “The designation given to those linen or cotton cloths which are wrought for being printed” (Sc. 1825 Jam.2). [blʌŋk]Sc. 1830 in W. & R. Chambers Edb. Jnl. (Dec. 1836) 392:
Cou'd ye, in truth, just say at once That Catrine blunks wad hae a chance To tak the lead; Nocht like them can be got frae France Sae cheap an' guid.Gsw. c.1770 A. Brown Hist. Gsw. (1797) II. 214:
One of these handkerchiefs was shown to Robert Glen, an eminent blue dyer of linen yarn. He saw something wanting, but could not tell what. He exclaimed, That is a blunk! meaning a failure in the process; hence the name of blunks, blunkers, and Blunkfaulds [see Blunk, v.]. Gsw. 1795 Stat. Acc.1 XII. 112:
Blounks, consisting of linen-warp, and cotton-weft, which were printed for neck-handkerchiefs.
Hence blunker, a calico-printer.
[Poss. a contraction of O.Sc. bluncat, blunket (also bloncat, blonkit), meaning grey, greyish blue, a cloth of this colour (see D.O.S.T. s.v.), and connected with Mod.Eng. blanket.]
