walleyed

adjective

wall·​eyed ˈwȯl-ˈīd 

1

: having walleyes or affected with walleye

2

: marked by a wild irrational staring of the eyes

Did you know?

The noun walleye has several meanings. It can refer to an eye with a whitish or bluish-white iris or to one with an opaque white cornea. It can also refer to a condition in which the eye turns outward away from the nose. The extended second sense of the adjective walleyed came from the appearance of eyes affected with the condition of walleye. You might guess that walleyed has an etymological connection with wall, but that's not the case. Rather, it is derived from wawil-eghed, a Middle English translation of the Old Norse word vagl-eygr, from vagl ("beam") and eygr ("eyed").

Examples of walleyed in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

His walleyed, foul-smelling, hangnail of a classics teacher charts a course toward redemption, and the ride is enjoyable. —Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 6 Mar. 2024

There is a painting of a walleyed man that looks like Neil Young, only stranger. —Christopher Borrelli, chicagotribune.com, 3 May 2018

Word History

Etymology

by folk etymology from Middle English wawil-eghed, partial translation of Old Norse vagl-eygr walleyed, from vagl beam (akin to Greek ochleus bar, Old English wegan to move, carry) + eygr eyed — more at way

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Medical Definition

walleyed

adjective

wall·​eyed -ˈlīd 

: having walleyes or affected with walleye