Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Blanket?

\Blan"ket\, n. [F. blanchet, OF. also blanket, a woolen waistcoat or shirt, the blanket of a printing press; prop. white woolen stuff, dim. of blanc white; blanquette a kind of white pear, fr. blanc white. See {Blank}, a.] 1. A heavy, loosely woven fabric, usually of wool, and having a nap, used in bed clothing; also, a similar fabric used as a robe; or any fabric used as a cover for a horse. 2. (Print.) A piece of rubber, felt, or woolen cloth, used in the tympan to make it soft and elastic. 3. A streak or layer of blubber in whales. Note: The use of blankets formerly as curtains in theaters explains the following figure of Shakespeare. --Nares. Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark To cry, ``Hold, hold!'' --Shak. {Blanket sheet}, a newspaper of folio size. {A wet blanket}, anything which damps, chills, dispirits, or discour?ges.
\Blan"ket\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Blanketed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Blanketing}.] 1. To cover with a blanket. I'll . . . blanket my loins. --Shak. 2. To toss in a blanket by way of punishment. We'll have our men blanket 'em i' the hall. --B. Jonson. 3. To take the wind out of the sails of (another vessel) by sailing to windward of her. {Blanket cattle}. See {Belted cattle}, under {Belted}.