squint

 
Pronunciation: /skwɪnt/

verb

  • 1 [no object] look at someone or something with one or both eyes partly closed in an attempt to see more clearly or as a reaction to strong light: the bright sun made them squint
  • [with object] partly close (one’s eyes) for such reasons: he squinted sleepy eyes against the sudden light
  • 2 [no object] have eyes that look in different directions: Melanie did not squint
  • (of a person’s eye) have a deviation in the direction of its gaze: her left eye squinted slightly

noun

  • 1 [in singular] a permanent deviation in the direction of the gaze of one eye: I had a bad squint
  • 2 [in singular] informal a quick or casual look: let me have a squint
  • 3an oblique opening through a wall in a church permitting a view of the altar from an aisle or side chapel.

adjective

chiefly Scottish
  • not straight or level: the squint bottom edge of the puzzle

Derivatives

squinter

noun

squinty

adjective (squintier, squintiest)
[often in combination]: squinty-eyed

Origin:

mid 16th century (in the sense 'squinting', as in squint-eyed): shortening of asquint