Etymology

hoodwink

hood·wink
H4O1O1D2W4I1N1K5

Today it means: To cover the eyes with, or as if with, a hood; to blindfold. Full definition →

First used mid 16th c.
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The story

The verb is derived from hood (“head covering attached to a larger garment such as a jacket or cloak”) + wink (“to close one’s eyes”). (< C16 'to blindfold'). The noun is derived from the verb.

First known use, by meaning

  • from mid 16th c. To cover the eyes with, or as if with, a hood; to blindfold.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.