the ice-blink
Preserved but no longer current.
The name given by mariners to a luminous appearance of the sky, caused by the reflection of light from ice. lif the sky is dark or brown, the navigator may be sure that there is water; if it is white, rosy, or orange- coloured, he may be certain there is ice. The former is called a "water sky," the latter an "ice sky.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “the ice-blink” mean?
The name given by mariners to a luminous appearance of the sky, caused by the reflection of light from ice. lif the sky is dark or brown, the navigator may be sure that there is water; if it is white, rosy, or orange- coloured, he may be certain there is ice. The former is called a "water sky," the latter an "ice sky.
Is “the ice-blink” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.