redeye

American  

[red-ahy] / ˈrɛdˌaɪ /

noun

plural

redeyes,

plural

redeye

1. any of several fishes having red eyes, as the rock bass.

2. red-eyed vireo.

3. Slang. Also red eye cheap, strong whiskey.

4. red-eye.

5. Military. Redeye, a shoulder-launched U.S. Army surface-to-air missile capable of destroying low-flying aircraft.

6. red-eye.

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adjective

1. red-eye.

redeye British  

/ ˈrɛdˌaɪ /

noun

1. slang inferior whiskey

2. slang a drink incorporating beer and tomato juice

3. another name for rudd

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Etymology

Origin of redeye

First recorded in 1665–75; 1920–25, redeye for def. 3; red ¹ + eye

Explanation

A redeye is an overnight airplane flight. If you're traveling to New York from Los Angeles, you could take a redeye that leaves at ten p.m. and arrives around seven a.m. Because they're crossing time zones and will lose several hours, travelers heading east sometimes choose to take a redeye. Theoretically, you can sleep on the plane during a redeye and be wide awake when you reach your destination. In reality, though, they're called redeyes for a reason: the red-rimmed eyes you have after an uncomfortable, sleepless night.

Example Sentences

Both species were once grouped together with redeye bass, but closer examination revealed clear differences in appearance.

From Science Daily • Mar. 23, 2026

You’ll find more aggression boarding a Southwest redeye.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 20, 2025

He homered in the second inning of the American League’s 3-2 loss on Tuesday night, then returned home on a redeye flight to be with his wife for the birth of their son.

From Washington Times • Jul. 14, 2023

He had to take a redeye flight to Florida.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 26, 2022

There were bass and black suckers, sunfish and catfish, to say nothing of the sweetest of all, the big-mouthed redeye.

From Children's Literature A Textbook of Sources for Teachers and Teacher-Training Classes by Clippinger, Erle Elsworth