Dictionary

owly-eyed en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Etymology

From owly + eyed.

Meanings

1. Seeing better in darkness than light; day-blind or photosensitive.
   • […] And he doesn't do no riding after dark near Dishpan Flats. Them poor misguided sodbusters ain't much account in most ways, but they're owly-eyed at night." 2005, Leslie Ernenwein, High Gun, Wheeler Publishing, published 2005, →ISBN, page 47:
2. Wide-eyed, naturally or from an expression of fear, shock, surprise, or excitement.
   • Gabe looked owly-eyed at the fellow and then prissed his mouth. 1961, John Myers Myers, I, Jack Swilling, Founder of Phoenix, Arizona, Hastings House, published 1961, page 118:
3. (slang) Extremely drunk.
   • Paul was owly-eyed by then, and he tried to hide it by saying, "Must've lost m' balance," but we noticed that when he clapped a fresh holt on, he was using both his graspers. 1951, John Sanford, A Man Without Shoes, Black Sparrow Press, published 1982, →ISBN, page 252:

Forms

Synonyms

moon-eyed (wide-eyed) · wide-eyed (wide-eyed) · wasted · saucer-eyed (wide-eyed) · paralytic (extremely drunk)