late 15c., "to blind (someone's) judgment," alteration of Middle French aveugler "delude, make blind," from Vulgar Latin *aboculus "without sight, blind," from Latin ab- "without" (see ab-) + oculus "eye" (see eye, n.). Loan-translation of Greek ap ommaton "without eyes." Meaning "to win over by deceit, seduce" is 1530s.