ˈblæŋkɪt n.,
adj., & v. --n. 1 a
large piece of
woollen or
other material used
esp. as a bed-covering or to
wrap up a
person or an
animal for warmth. 2 (usu. foll. by of) a
thick mass or
layer that covers
something (blanket of fog; blanket of silence). 3
Printing a rubber
surface transferring an
impression from a
plate to
paper etc. in
offset printing. --adj.
covering all cases or classes;
inclusive (blanket condemnation; blanket agreement). --v.tr. (blanketed, blanketing) 1
cover with or as if with a blanket (snow blanketed
the land). 2 stifle;
keep quiet (blanketed all discussion). 3 Naut.
take wind from the sails of (another craft) by
passing to
windward. øblanket
bath a
body wash given to a
bedridden patient. blanket
stitch a stitch used to
neaten the edges of a blanket or other material.
born on the
wrong side of the blanket
illegitimate.
electric blanket an electrically-wired blanket used for
heating a
bed.
wet blanket colloq. a
gloomy person preventing the enjoyment of others. [ME f. OF blancquet, blanchet f. blanc
white, BLANK]
