Blindfold

A woman wears a blindfold.

A blindfold (from Middle English blindfellen) is a garment, usually of cloth, tied to the head to cover the eyes, rendering the user effectively (but temporarily) blind.

Applications

Blindfolds can be used in various applications:

To block out light when sleeping, especially on an aircraft, or for those who sleep during the day. This is called a sleep mask.
In children's games, such as Pin the Tail on the Donkey and when hitting a piñata.
As part of BDSM sensory deprivation scene (see Blindfold (BDSM)).

A collection of BDSM blindfolds.

A tool in both martial arts and weight lifting to encourage reliance on other senses, namely touch or hearing.
As a sensory deprivation tool in meditation (to focus attention on oneself)
A kidnapping victim, hostage, prisoner, etc. may be blindfolded to avoid identification of location(s) or people. (An alternative to which is a hood.)
Sometimes guests who are not captured are still blindfolded or may consent to be blindfolded for the same reasons, as occurs in both Robin Hood and Batman fiction when being led/driven to their respective hidouts.
In an execution by firing squad.
Before sunglasses, blindfolds were the primary facial cover worn by those who could not see. This is still a rare practise today.

External links

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