• Owly-eyed

    Alternative forms

    Origin

    owly + eyed

    Full definition of owly-eyed

    Adjective

    owly-eyed

    1. Seeing better in darkness than light; day-blind or photosensitive.
      • 2005, Leslie Ernenwein, High Gun, Wheeler Publishing (2005), ISBN 1597220191, page 47: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."
    2. Wide-eyed, naturally or from an expression of fear, shock, surprise, or excitement.
      • 1961, John Myers Myers, I, Jack Swilling, Founder of Phoenix, Arizona, Hastings House (1961), page 118:Gabe looked owly-eyed at the fellow and then prissed his mouth.
    3. (slang) Extremely drunk.
      • 1951, John Sanford (author), A Man Without Shoes, Black Sparrow Press (1982), ISBN 0876855443, page 252: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.

    Synonyms

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