wall-eyed definition

Having an eye of a very light gray or whitish colour.

Shakespeare, in using wall-eyed as a term of reproach (as "wall-eyed rage," a "wall-eyed wretch"), alludes probably to the idea of unnatural or distorted vision. See the Note under Wall-eye. It is an eye which is utterly and incurably perverted, an eye that knows no pity.

Origin: Icel. Valdeygthr, or vagleygr; fr. Vagl a beam, a beam in the eye (akin to Sw. Vagel a roost, a perch, a sty in the eye) + eygr having eyes (from auga eye). See Eye.

(01 Mar 1998)