blinders
UK[ˈblaɪn.dəz]US[ˈblaɪn.dɚz]
n
leather pieces fixed on either side of a horse's bridle to prevent it from seeing sideways and behind
n
something that prevents someone from understanding the full truth of a situation
Morpheme Breakdown
blind
ers
blind
sense
ers
sense
Etymology
the word "blinders" is a transparent compound formed from native english elements. its first element, "blind," descends from proto-germanic blindaz, a term of uncertain origin but firmly established in the sense of lacking vision. the second element is the agentive suffix "-er," used to form nouns denoting instruments or tools, which then takes the regular plural "-s." the term's logic is entirely literal: they are instruments that cause a form of blindness, specifically a restricted field of vision. originally applied to the physical equipment for horses, its meaning was metaphorically extended to describe any factor that narrows a person's perspective or obscures the full scope of a situation.
Analysis
Structure: blind (sense) + ers (sense)
blind (from old english blind, meaning "sightless, unable to see"; functional role: root, conveying the core concept of lack of sight). ers (from old english -or, a plural suffix for tools or instruments; functional role: suffix forming agent nouns, here indicating objects that perform the function of the root).
Examples
the racehorse wore blinkers, known as blinders in north america, to keep it focused on the track ahead.
his fierce nationalism acted as blinders, preventing him from seeing the merits of other cultures.
you need to remove your ideological blinders to assess the evidence objectively.