Argusn.
/ˈɑːɡəs/, U.S. /ˈɑrɡəs/ 1.
a. A mythological person fabled to have had a hundred eyes. Hence, a very vigilant person, a watcher or guardian.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > vigilance > [noun] > one who is vigilant > very
Argus1387
1387 J. Trevisa Descr. Brit. (Caxton) 37 They ben in araye tormentours in wynnyngis argi.
1559 T. Sackville in W. Baldwin et al. Myrroure for Magistrates Induct. xvii With more then Argus' eyes.
1573 T. Tusser Fiue Hundreth Points Good Husbandry (new ed.) f. 45v If cheeses in dayrie, haue Argusses eies.
1740 S. Richardson Pamela I. xxxi. 157 I hope still, Argus, to be too hard for thee.
1855 H. H. Milman Hist. Lat. Christianity VI. xiv. x. 626 The Argus-eyes of the still ubiquitous Clergy.
b. [After the death of Argus, his eyes were transferred by Hera to the tail of the peacock.]
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > birds > order Galliformes (fowls) > family Phasianidae (pheasants, etc.) > [noun] > paro cristatus (peafowl) > parts of > spots on feathers
Argus1590
peacock-eye1890
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. iv. sig. D2v Fayre Pecocks..full of Argus eyes their tayles dispredden wide.
2. A genus of pheasants, natives of Asia, of which one species ( A. giganteus) is as large as a turkey.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > birds > order Galliformes (fowls) > family Phasianidae (pheasants, etc.) > [noun] > genus Argus
Argus1768
Sumatran pheasant1783
Argus pheasant1813
1768 Gentleman's Mag. 38 521 The argus..is the largest species of pheasant yet known.
1829 E. Griffith et al. Cuvier's Animal Kingdom VIII. 237 The argus was brought for the first time to Batavia from Malacca in 1780.
1834 Malte-Brun's Univ. Geog. III. 431 The coo-ow, or Argos pheasant, is remarked for its uncommon beauty.
3. A name for certain butterflies of the genus Polyommatus, with many eye-like spots on the wings.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > Rhopalocera (butterflies) > [noun] > family Lycaenidae > genus Polyommatus > member of
Adonis1795
Argus1824
1824 L. Jermyn Butterfly Collector's Vade Mecum *22 (table) Brown Argus... Scotch Argus.
Compounds
argus-eyed adj. extremely watchful or sharp-sighted.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > types of vision > [adjective] > having watchful eyes
all-eyed1596
narrow-eyed1600
argus-eyed1603
argus-like1663
the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > vigilance > [adjective]
wakerc1000
watchingOE
wakingc1175
wakerlyc1400
circumspect1430
vigilant?a1500
prick-eared?1550
invigilant1570
vigil?1576
wakeful1589
eyeful1594
open-eyed1601
argus-eyed1603
watchful1603
alert1618
awake1619
vigilant1655
guardful1749
1603 J. Florio tr. M. de Montaigne Ess. ii. xii. 315 No humane iudgement is so..Argos-eied, but sometimes shal fall a sleep.
1855 J. L. Motley Rise Dutch Republic Pref. p. vii Argus-eyed Venetian envoys.
argus-like adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > types of vision > [adjective] > having watchful eyes
all-eyed1596
narrow-eyed1600
argus-eyed1603
argus-like1663
1663 B. Gerbier Counsel to Builders sig. g2 All Creatures from the Mole..to the most Argus-like above ground.
Argus pheasant n. Argus giganteus: see sense 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > birds > order Galliformes (fowls) > family Phasianidae (pheasants, etc.) > [noun] > genus Argus
Argus1768
Sumatran pheasant1783
Argus pheasant1813
1813 J. M. Good et al. Pantologia at Phasianus Argus pheasant... Inhabits Chinese Tartary, and is as large as a turkey.
argus-queller n. a title of the god Mercury.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the supernatural > deity > classical deity > [noun] > Hermes or Mercury
mercuryOE
argus-queller1870
Hermes-
1870 W. C. Bryant tr. Homer Iliad II. xvi. 122 The mighty Argus-queller saw the maid.
argus-shell n. name of a species of porcelain-shell.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > invertebrates > subkingdom Metazoa > grade Triploblastica or Coelomata > class Gastropoda > [noun] > superorder Branchifera > order Prosobranchiata > section Siphonostomata > family Cypraeidae > shell of cowrie
argus-shell1750
cowrie1777
nutmeg cowrie1815
cowrie shell1817
money cowrie1826
1750 J. Hill Hist. Animals 152 The argus shell, the oblong oculated porcellana.
argus-snake n. (see quot.).
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > reptiles > order Squamata (lizards and snakes) > suborder Ophidia (snakes) > [noun] > unspecified and miscellaneous types of
worm-kinc893
slow-wormOE
hagworm?c1475
salpege1569
scytale1572
house snake1608
porphyre1608
ellops1667
sea-serpent1672
tree-serpent1731
boyuna1763
whip-snake1774
garter-snake1775
switch-snake1791
argus-snake1802
rat snake1818
skaapsteker1818
sea-snake1827
short-tail1879
roof-snake1884
brown snake1896
herald-snake1910
night snake1918
parrot snake1931
1802 G. Shaw Gen. Zool. III. 439 The Argus Snake..is beautifully marked from head to tail by numerous transverse rows of round ocellated red spots.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1885; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.1387