nictitation

English

Etymology

From nictitate.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /nɪktɪˈteɪʃən/

  Rhymes: -eɪʃən

Noun

nictitation (countable and uncountable, plural nictitations)

1. Winking, blinking
   • 1962: Vlamidir Nabokov, Pale Fire

     I saw a couple, later identified for me as Mr Colt, a local lawyer, and his wife, whose blundering Cadillac half entered my driveway before retreating in a flurry of luminous nictitation.

Related terms

• nictitate
• nictitating membrane

See also

• nictation