squint Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun abnormal alignment of one or both eyes
    strabismus.
  2. noun the act of squinting; looking with the eyes partly closed
  3. verb cross one's eyes as if in strabismus
    squinch.
    • The children squinted so as to scare each other
  4. verb be cross-eyed; have a squint or strabismus
  5. verb partly close one's eyes, as when hit by direct blinding light
    • The driver squinted as the sun hit his windshield
  6. adjective satellite (used especially of glances) directed to one side with or as if with doubt or suspicion or envy
    askant; askance; sidelong; asquint; squinty; squint-eyed.
    • her eyes with their misted askance look"- Elizabeth Bowen
    • sidelong glances

WordNet

Squint adjective
Etymology
Cf. D. schuinte a slope, schuin, schuinisch, sloping, oblique, schuins slopingly. Cf. Askant, Askance, Asquint.
Definitions
  1. Looking obliquely. Specifically (Med.), not having the optic axes coincident; -- said of the eyes. See Squint, n., 2.
  2. Fig.: Looking askance. "Squint suspicion." Milton.
Squint intransitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Squinted; present participle & verbal noun Squinting
Definitions
  1. To see or look obliquely, asquint, or awry, or with a furtive glance.
    Some can squint when they will. Bacon.
  2. (Med.) To have the axes of the eyes not coincident; -- to be cross-eyed.
  3. To deviate from a true line; to run obliquely.
Squint transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To turn to an oblique position; to direct obliquely; as, to squint an eye.
  2. To cause to look with noncoincident optic axes.
    He . . . squints the eye, and makes the harelid. Shak.
Squint noun
Definitions
  1. The act or habit of squinting.
  2. (Med.) A want of coincidence of the axes of the eyes; strabismus.
  3. (Arch.) Same as Hagioscope.

Webster 1913