| 释义 |
nictitate, v.|ˈnɪktɪteɪt|
[f. med.L. nictitāt-, ppl. stem of nictitāre, frequentative of L. nictāre to wink: see nictate v.]
intr. Of the eyelids: To wink. rare.
1822–34Good's Study Med. (ed. 4) III. 330 In dying people, whose eyelids are become torpid and do not nictitate. Ibid. 395 The eyelids nictitate with a quiver that is often difficult to follow-up.
Hence ˈnictitating ppl. a., chiefly in nictitating membrane, a third or inner eyelid present in many animals, serving to protect the eye from dust, etc., and to keep it moist.
1713Derham Phys.-Theol. iv. ii. 110 To the Eye-lids, we may add another guard afforded the Eyes, of most Quadrupeds, Birds, and Fishes, by the nictitating Membrane. 1774Goldsm. Nat. Hist. (1776) VII. 209 The eye also [of the rattlesnake] is furnished with a nictitating membrane, that preserves it from dust. 1822–34Good's Study Med. (ed. 4) III. 16 In the elephant, oppossum, seal, cat-kind, and various other mammals, all birds and all fishes, we find a third eyelid or nictitating membrane as it is usually called. 1899Allbutt's Syst. Med. VIII. 39 Clonic spasm of the eye-lids.., sometimes spoken of as nictitating spasm. |