blate

¹

[ bleyt ]

adjective

, Chiefly Scot.

1. bashful; shy.

blate

²

[ bleyt ]

verb (used without object)

, blat·ed, blat·ing.

1. bleat.

noun

1. bleat ( def 4 ).

Other Words From

• blately adverb
• blateness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of blate¹

before 1000; Old English blāt livid, pallid, (of a sound) low (not found in ME)

Origin of blate²

1855–60; perhaps dialectal variant of bleat ( great )

Example Sentences

We're no blate at askin' the lawin', although some folk are unco' slow at payin' o't. It's just four-and-six.

From Project Gutenberg

"You're too blate, Colin," he said, and then he put his arm through his wife's and gave her a squeeze to take her into his joke.

From Project Gutenberg

He's 'no blate,' as they used to say in Scotland, and made himself quite at home to-night.

From Project Gutenberg

But I dinna ken the way ot, father; I neer did sic a thing a my days; odd, Im unco blate to tryt.

From Project Gutenberg

But the compliment is like the chariot-wheels o Pharaoh, sae dreigh o drawing, that I canna afford to be blate wi you ony langer.

From Project Gutenberg