squint

present singular third person squints · participle present squinting · participle past squinted · past squinted

1. intransitiveTo look with the eyes partly closed, as in bright sunlight, or as a threatening expression.

   The children squinted to frighten each other.

   1 more example

   “A tight little craft,” was Austin’s invariable comment on the matron;[…]. ¶ Near her wandered her husband, orientally bland, invariably affable, and from time to time squinting sideways, as usual, in the ever-renewed expectation that he might catch a glimpse of his stiff, retroussé moustache.

   1907 August, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, chapter IX, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC

2. intransitiveTo look or glance sideways.

   Synonyms: skew

3. intransitiveTo look with, or have eyes that are turned in different directions; to suffer from strabismus.
4. figurativelyintransitiveTo have an indirect bearing, reference, or implication; to have an allusion to, or inclination towards, something.

   Yet if the following sentence means anything, it is a squinting toward hypnotism.

   1887, The Forum

5. ScotlandintransitiveTo be not quite straight, off-centred; to deviate from a true line; to run obliquely.
6. transitiveTo turn to an oblique position; to direct obliquely.

   to squint an eye

7. Look askance.

   Congress clearly is squinting at the prospect of increased funding for the program.

plural squints

1. An expression in which the eyes are partly closed.
2. The look of eyes which are turned in different directions, as in strabismus.

   He looks handsome although he's got a slight squint.

3. informalA quick or sideways glance; a short look; a peep.

   —And here she is, says Alf, that was giggling over the Police Gazette with Terry on the counter, in all her warpaint. —Give us a squint at her, says I.

   1922 February 2, James Joyce, “[Episode 12: The Cyclops]”, in Ulysses, Paris: Shakespeare and Company […], →OCLC

   1 more example

   "Better have a squint yourself," suggested Horace, withdrawing his implement and resigning the position. "Listening posts are more in your line by all accounts, inspector."

   1934, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], The Bravo of London

4. A hagioscope.
5. radio transmissionThe angle by which the transmission signal is offset from the normal of a phased array antenna.
6. architectureAn opening, often arched, through an internal wall of a church, providing an oblique view of the altar.

1. Looking obliquely; having the vision distorted.
2. Scotlandaskew, not level