whale eye

American  

[weyl ahy, hweyl] / ˈweɪl ˌaɪ, ˈʰweɪl /

noun

Animal Behavior.

1. the act of showing the whites of the eyes to indicate fear or anxiety.

   I could tell from my dog’s tense posture and whale eye that he was worried about what I might do next.

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Etymology

Origin of whale eye

First recorded in 2005–10

Example Sentences

As explained by the AKC, "whale eye" is a term used to describe when you can see the whites of your dog's eye, known as the sclera.

From Salon • May 18, 2022

Madson said in the videos she's seen of the trend, she's noticed a lot of dogs exhibit "whale eye."

From Salon • May 18, 2022