hoodman-blind: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Archaic/ObsoleteHistorical/Literary/Archaic
Quick answer
What does “hoodman-blind” mean?
An archaic term for the game later known as 'blind man's buff'.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An archaic term for the game later known as 'blind man's buff'.
Literally, the person who is blindfolded or has their vision obscured in this chasing game; historically used to refer to the state of being blindfolded or kept in the dark, either literally or figuratively.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The word is equally obsolete in both varieties. No modern regional difference exists.
Connotations
Purely historical; evokes Shakespearean or Renaissance-era language.
Frequency
Not used in contemporary English. It appears in historical texts and glossaries.
Grammar
How to Use “hoodman-blind” in a Sentence
[play] + hoodman-blind[be/act as] + the hoodman-blindVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Never used.
Academic
Only in historical or literary analysis of Early Modern English texts.
Everyday
Never used.
Technical
Not applicable.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “hoodman-blind”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “hoodman-blind”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hoodman-blind”
- Using it in modern contexts.
- Spelling as 'hoodman blind' or 'hoodmanblind'.
- Confusing it with 'hoodwink', which shares the 'blind' metaphor but is a different verb.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an archaic term. The modern name for the game is 'blind man's buff' or 'blind man's bluff'.
Primarily in works from the 16th and 17th centuries, such as the plays of William Shakespeare (e.g., 'Hamlet').
No, in this compound, 'hoodman' specifically refers to the person whose head/hood is pulled forward to blindfold them for the game. It is distinct from the historical term for an executioner who wore a hood.
Historically, it could be used figuratively for a state of blindness or ignorance. However, in contemporary English, using it would be highly archaic and potentially confusing. Use 'blindfolded' instead.
An archaic term for the game later known as 'blind man's buff'.
Hoodman-blind is usually historical/literary/archaic in register.
Hoodman-blind: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhʊdmən blaɪnd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhʊdmən blaɪnd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “hoodman's blind (variant)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'hood' being pulled over someone's eyes, making them 'blind' for the game.
Conceptual Metaphor
IGNORANCE IS BLINDNESS (being the 'hoodman-blind' means being deprived of information/sight).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary reason 'hoodman-blind' is not used today?