white-eye

[ hwahyt-ahy, wahyt- ]

noun

, plural white-eyes.

1. any of numerous small, chiefly tropical Old World songbirds of the family Zosteropidae, most of which have a ring of white feathers around the eye: several species are endangered.

white-eye

noun

1. Also called (NZ)blightysilvereyetauhouwaxeye any songbird of the family Zosteropidae of Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and Asia, having a greenish plumage with a white ring around each eye
2. any of certain other birds having a white ring or patch around the eye

Word History and Origins

Origin of white-eye¹

First recorded in 1840–50

Example Sentences

"Old Calamity" was a roan, with one wicked white eye, that in his best days had done a hundred miles in ten hours.

From Project Gutenberg

Sides of lower mandible conspicuously grooved; entire plumage sooty brown, except a white eye-ring.

From Project Gutenberg

Head slaty; throat and breast grayish; an inconspicuous white eye-ring.

From Project Gutenberg

Similar to No. 679, but with an incomplete white eye-ring showing above and below eye.

From Project Gutenberg

The black and white eye-spots are not real eyes, but to a bird they doubtless seem so.

From Project Gutenberg