squint

[ skwint ]

verb (used without object)

1. to look with the eyes partly closed.
2. Ophthalmology. to be affected with strabismus; be cross-eyed.
3. to look or glance obliquely or sidewise; look askance.
4. to make or have an indirect reference to or bearing on; tend or incline toward (usually followed by toward, at, etc.).

verb (used with object)

1. to close (the eyes) partly in looking:

   The baby squinted his eyes at the bright lights.

2. to cause to squint; cause to look obliquely.

noun

1. an act or instance of squinting.
2. Ophthalmology. a condition of the eye consisting in noncoincidence of the optic axes; strabismus.
3. Informal. a quick glance:

   Let me have a squint at that paper.

4. a looking obliquely or askance.
5. an indirect reference.
6. an inclination or tendency, especially an oblique or perverse one.
7. Also called hagioscope. (in a church) a small opening in a wall giving a view of the altar.

adjective

1. looking obliquely; looking with a side glance; looking askance.
2. Ophthalmology. (of the eyes) affected with strabismus.

squint

/ skwɪnt /

verb

1. usually intr to cross or partly close (the eyes)
2. intr to have a squint
3. intr to look or glance sideways or askance

noun

1. See strabismus
   the nontechnical name for strabismus
2. the act or an instance of squinting; glimpse
3. Also calledhagioscope a narrow oblique opening in a wall or pillar of a church to permit a view of the main altar from a side aisle or transept
4. informal.
   a quick look; glance

adjective

1. having a squint
2. informal.
   crooked; askew

Derived Forms

• ˈsquinty, adjective
• ˈsquinter, noun

Other Words From

• squint·er noun
• squint·ing·ly adverb
• squint·ing·ness noun
• un·squint·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of squint¹

First recorded in 1350–1400 as an adverb “with a squint; askant,” and 1570–80 for adjective senses; Middle English; variant of asquint

Word History and Origins

Origin of squint¹

C14: short for asquint

Example Sentences

So, if you want step-by-step directions from a maps app, or real-time health monitoring, you can actually see it without squinting.

From Popular-Science

Roethlisberger flailed and looked hopelessly skyward, like a squinting tourist in New York.

From Washington Post

It was the way they bathed the field, the stands and made him squint.

From Washington Post

“There it is,” said Chris, squinting and pointing through cigarette smoke.

From Ozy

I tensed up and kind of squinted my eyes a little bit like, Ooooh, this is going to hurt.

From Outside Online

You have to squint very hard to make the novel begin to line up with reality.

From The Daily Beast

No squint-eyed carny could ever guess it; it's a shock to find out he's 20 years older than you always thought.

From The Daily Beast

Yekaterina Samutsevich tried not to squint in the bright light of the studio lamps.

From The Daily Beast

If you squint, you can see the Home Depot behind it gleaming bright and orange in the clear Texas air.

From The Daily Beast

Bonnebault was squint-eyed and his physical appearance did not belie his depravity.

From Project Gutenberg

To the measured gestures of the little preachers were corresponding words learned by heart and false enough to make one squint.

From Project Gutenberg

"Now you jist cut out yer comedy until I can squint 'em over," said Fisheye impatiently.

From Project Gutenberg

"Port tack and headed acrost us," snarled the master, after a sniff at the air and a squint at the sluggish ripple.

From Project Gutenberg

"I ain't making any rash promises," stated Captain Downs, walking to the rail and taking a squint at the top-hamper.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• peek
• peep