blinked milk
Milk that has turned a little sour.
Also called blinky, blinky milk.
Updated September 21, 2026
blinked milk pronunciation
/BLINKT milk/
Meaning
Milk past sweet and headed toward clabber. Also called blinky. Before iceboxes, warm weather blinked milk fast. Some old-timers still poured it over cornbread and called supper done.
How folks use it
- “Don't drink that. The milk's blinked.”
- “Granny said blinked milk on cornbread beats wasting a whole jug.”
Origin and etymology
Blink for milk going sour comes from Scots and Ulster speech, where blink also meant to bewitch with the evil eye. Appalachian English kept blinked and blinky for milk on the turn. Dialect surveys find it strong in East Tennessee and other mountain counties.
Frequently asked questions
Is blinked milk the same as buttermilk?
No. Buttermilk is made on purpose. Blinked milk just went bad on the counter.