blate

¹

[ bleyt ]

adjective

, Chiefly Scot.

1. bashful; shy.

blate

²

[ bleyt ]

verb (used without object)

, blat·ed, blat·ing.

1. bleat.

noun

1. bleat ( def 4 ).

Other Words From

• blately adverb
• blateness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of blate¹

before 1000; Old English blāt livid, pallid, (of a sound) low (not found in ME)

Origin of blate²

1855–60; perhaps dialectal variant of bleat ( great )

Example Sentences

Gin ye kent what was doing at hame, I trow ye wad look blate.

From Project Gutenberg

Hang ye for an Italian dog! do ye think that Scotch lasses are sae blate as to forget their bargains!

From Project Gutenberg

Do not be too blate,25 and for God’s sake do not try to be too forward; nothing sets you worse.—I am “Your affectionate friend and governess, “Barbara Grant.”

From Project Gutenberg

Grant was by no means "blate" in availing himself of the hint, but the Shaws were tough fighters.

From Project Gutenberg

He broke off to hum:— “‘Now Johnnie, troth, ye werena blate, to come wi’ the news o’ your ain, And leave your men in sic a strait, so early in the morning.’

From Project Gutenberg