nictitation
/nɪktɪˈteɪʃən/
noun
- The act or process of blinking or winking; a rapid closing and opening of the eyelids.
- Frequent nictitation can be a symptom of eye strain.
- The lizard's nictitation helped keep its eyes clean in the dusty desert.
- The nictitation of the cat's eye was barely visible as it watched the bird.