E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Blanket.
The wrong side of the blanket. A love-child is said to come of the wrong side of the blanket.
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“He grew up to be a fine waule fallow, like mony ane that comes o’ the wrang side o’ the blanket.”—Sir W. Scott: The Antiquary, chap. xxiv.
A wet blanket. A discouragement, a marplot. A person is a wet blanket who discourages a proposed scheme. “Treated with a wet blanket,” discouraged. “A wet blanket influence,” etc. A wet blanket is used to smother fire, or to prevent one escaping from a fire from being burnt.
