blindfold

Etymology

From Middle English blyndefolde, blyndfuld, blynfold, blindfeld, blindfelt, yblynfeld, variants of y-blyndfalled, blyndfelled, etc. ("stricken blind, blindfolded"), past participle of Middle English blindfellen (“to strike blind”), from blind (“to blind”) and fellen (“to fell”), equivalent to blind + felled. Later influenced by the unrelated verb fold.

noun

1. A covering, usually a bandage, for the eyes, blocking light to the eyes.
   I put a blindfold over my boyfriend's eyes and told him I had a surprise for him.
2. Something that obscures vision (literally or metaphorically).

adj

1. Having the eyes covered so as to obscure vision
2. Thoughtless; reckless.

adv

1. With the eyes covered so as to obscure vision.
   The commuters from the suburbs come unencumbered with luggage, children and prams, and can almost be relied upon to find their way blindfold to their trains. 1962 April, J. N. Faulkner, “Summer Saturday at Waterloo”, in Modern Railways, page 258

verb

1. To cover the eyes, in order to make someone unable to see.
   Children need to be blindfolded before they hit the piñata.
2. To obscure understanding or comprehension.