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

\Blan"ket\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Blanketed}; p. pr. &
vb. n. {Blanketing}.]
1. To cover with a blanket.
         I'll . . . blanket my loins.          --Shak.
2. To toss in a blanket by way of punishment.
         We'll have our men blanket 'em i' the hall. --B.
                                               Jonson.
3. To take the wind out of the sails of (another vessel) by
   sailing to windward of her.
{Blanket cattle}. See {Belted cattle}, under {Belted}.