An Etymological Dictionary of the Scottish Language / in which the words are explained in their different senses, authorized by the names of the writers by whom they are used, or the titles of the works in which they occur, and deduced from their originals

by John Jamieson

BLICHAM, s. (gutt.) A contemptuous designation for a person, Perths.

BLICHT, adj. An epithet expressive of the coruscation of armour, in the time of action.
Houlate.

A. S. blic-an, coruscare; blect, coruscatus. Alem. blechet, Germ. blicket, splendet.

To BLIN, BLYN, BLYNE, v. n. To cease, to desist, S.; also blind.
Wallace.

A. S. blinn-an, cessare, contr. from bilinn-an, id. In Isl. and Su. G. it occurs in its simple form, linn-a, also, lind-a, id.

To BLIN, v. a. To cause to cease.
Chron. S. Poet.

BLIND HARIE, Blind man's buff, S. [Belly-blind], synon.
Herd.

In the Scandinavian Julbock, from which this sport seems to have originated, the principal actor was disguised in the skin of a buck or goat. The name Blind Harie might therefore arise from his rough attire; as he was called blind, in consequence of being blindfolded. Or it may signify, Blind Master, or Lord, in ironical language.
V. [Herie].

BLIND MAN'S BALL, or Devil's snuff-box, Common puff-ball, S. V. Flor. Suec.
Lightfoot.

It is also called Blind man's een, i. e. eyes, S. B. An idea, according to Linn., prevails throughout the whole of Sweden, that the dust of this plant causes blindness.