from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
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.
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2. (Print.) A piece of rubber, felt, or woolen cloth, used in
the tympan to make it soft and elastic.
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3. A streak or layer of blubber in whales.
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Note: The use of blankets formerly as curtains in theaters
explains the following figure of Shakespeare. --Nares.
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Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark
To cry, "Hold, hold!" --Shak.
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{Blanket sheet}, a newspaper of folio size.
{A wet blanket}, anything which damps, chills, dispirits, or
discour?ges.
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