blinker

[bling-ker]

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noun

a device for flashing light signals.

a light that flashes intermittently, especially one that serves as a traffic signal.

either of two leather flaps on a bridle, to prevent a horse from seeing sideways; a blinder.

verb (used with object)

to put blinkers on.

Origin of blinker

First recorded in 1630–40; blink + -er¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for blinker

indicator, alarm, cue, sign, beacon, gesture, curtain, omen, nod, flare, token, alert, wink, flag, tocsin, go-ahead, okay, mark, movement, blinker

Examples from the Web for blinker

Historical Examples of blinker

Blinker got a pager and looked up the movements of Sunday steamboats.
The Trimmed Lamp
O. Henry
Blinker held Florence tightly until the boat had righted itself.
The Trimmed Lamp
O. Henry
She made Blinker sit down and sat by his side and put her hand in his.
The Trimmed Lamp
O. Henry
Blinker took pains to provide against the rejection of his application.
The Trimmed Lamp
O. Henry
"Don't say that again," said Blinker in a tone that made her look at him in frank surprise.
The Trimmed Lamp
O. Henry

British Dictionary definitions for blinker

blinker

noun

a flashing light for sending messages, as a warning device, etc, such as a direction indicator on a road vehicle

(often plural) a slang word for eye 1

verb (tr)

to provide (a horse) with blinkers

to obscure with or as if with blinkers

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for blinker

1630s, "one who blinks," agent noun from blink (v.). As a type of horse eye screen to keep the animal looking straight ahead, from 1789. Slang meaning "the eye" is from 1816. Meaning "intermittent flashing light" is from 1923.