beady

[bee-dee]

adjective, bead·i·er, bead·i·est.

beadlike; small, globular, and glittering: beady eyes.

covered with or full of beads.

Origin of beady

First recorded in 1820–30; bead + -y¹

Related formsbead·i·ly, adverbbead·i·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for beady

Contemporary Examples of beady

He agreed, and I could almost feel his beady little eyes going ‘KERCHING!’
How Susan Boyle Won My Heart
Piers Morgan
April 16, 2009

Historical Examples of beady

His weapons had been indeed removed, and the marshal was looking at him with beady eyes.
Way of the Lawless
Max Brand
The beach plum and bayberry bushes on the dunes were spangled with beady drops.
Keziah Coffin
Joseph C. Lincoln
The beady eyes vanished and reappeared, and they considered me impassively.
The Strolling Saint
Raphael Sabatini
Sautee shook his head; his beady, black eyes glowed, and he stroked his chin.
The Coyote
James Roberts
Inside the hole, he saw a single rat, staring at him with beady eyes.
Anything You Can Do ...
Gordon Randall Garrett

British Dictionary definitions for beady

beady

adjective beadier or beadiest

small, round, and glittering: used esp of eyes

resembling or covered with beads

Derived Formsbeadily, adverbbeadiness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for beady

adj.

in reference to eyes, 1826, from bead (n.) + -y (2). Related: Beadily; beadiness.