Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. a blow to the eye.

1878

B. Hogan Life and Adventures of Ben Hogan 40: Becoming enraged at a blinder in the left eye, he clinched with Ben.

2. (UK Und.) the act of throwing pepper in someone’s eyes to effect a robbery.

1968

J. Barlow Burden of Proof 3: ‘I did a rent collector with a blinder today.’ He had [...] thrown pepper in the man’s eyes and seized the bag with £300 in it.

3. a hard and exciting sporting encounter; esp. as to play a blinder [one is blinded by the quality of the game].

1960		D. Storey This Sporting Life 17: You played a blinder [...] It was the best game I ever saw.
1971		N. Smith Gumshoe (1998) 38: I often fantasize on what it’s like to be Ball, Harvey or Husband playing a blinder at Wembley.
1979		F. Norman Too Many Crooks Spoil the Caper 193: For off the cuff on the spur of the moment she was playing a blinder.
1998		V. McDermind Star Struck (1999) 109: Ruth says you played a blinder!
2000		Indep. Rev. 17 June 4: He played a blinder with the trains.
2010		Sun. Times Mag. 19 Dec. 62/1: He may have been rubbish on the pitch [...] but off it he’s played a blinder.

4. a severe headache [one is blinded by the strength of the pain].

1978

S. King Stand (1990) 34: His headache was turning into a real blinder.

5. an exceptionally attractive woman.

2010

K. Richards Life 184: Linda was seventeen, strikingly beautiful [...] a blinder.