Nictate

Nictate (pronounced nik-teyt)

To wink.

1755–1765: From the Latin nictātus, past participle of nictāre (to wink, fidget, blink, signal with the eyes), related to nicere (to beckon) from the primitive Indo-European root kneigwh- (to blink, to draw together (the eyes or eyelids)), source also of the Gothic hniewan, the Old High German nigan (to bow, be inclined).  The related forms are nictitated & nictitating.

The alteration nictitate

The intransitive verb nictitate is sometimes described as an alternative spelling of nictate but it’s more a niche alteration for a specialised niche.  Nictitate’s origins are the same as nictate, coming from the Latin word for winking, nictāre.  The addition of the extra syllable is thought to have been under the influence of Latin verbs ending in -itare, such as palpitare and agitare (from which, respectively, English gained palpitate and agitate).  The niche is in zoology, a role it’s played since scientists in the early eighteenth century began to describe a “nictitating membrane”, the so-called "third eyelid", the thin, usually transparent membrane in the eyes of birds, fishes, and other vertebrates, the function of which is to help keep the eyeball moist and clean.

Noted nictator, Lindsay Lohan, nictating.