sheep's eyesn.

Forms: Also sheep's eye; also 1600s sheep-eyes.

Etymology: Compare West Frisian skiepseach, Dutch schaapsoog, German schafsauge.

1. Phr.

a. to cast (also throw) a sheep's-eye at (or upon), now usually to cast (occasionally to make) sheep's-eyes at: to look lovingly, amorously, or longingly at.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > love > flirtation or coquetry > flirt with [verb (transitive)] > look amorously at

to cast (also throw) a sheep's-eye at (or upon)a1529

to look sideways1652

ogle1686

sheep's-eye1801

to cast (occasionally to make) sheep's-eyes at1809

to eye up1820

a1529 J. Skelton Poems against Garnesche in Poet Wks. (1843) I. 121 When ye kyst a shepys ie,..[At] mastres Andelby.

a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) ii. ii. sig. P3 Mopsa, throwing a great number of sheeps eyes vpon me.

1631 B. Jonson Bartholmew Fayre v. iv. 78 in Wks. II Hero..seeing Leanders naked legge, and goodly calfe, Cast at him, from the boat, a Sheepes eye, and a halfe.

1726 W. R. Chetwood Voy. & Adventures Capt. R. Boyle 247 Don Manuel cast many a Sheep's Eye at my Wife, and his good Lady at me.

1738 J. Swift Compl. Coll. Genteel Conversat. 30 I have often seen him cast a Sheep's Eye out of a Calf's Head at you.

1802 G. Colman Broad Grins 58 He, the beast! was casting sheeps-eyes at her, Out of his bullock head.

1809 B. H. Malkin tr. A. R. Le Sage Adventures Gil Blas I. i. iv. 38 I could not help casting a sheep's eye at the gold and silver plate peeping out of the different cupboards.

1847 W. M. Thackeray Vanity Fair (1848) xxvii. 236 The horrud old Colonel,..was making sheep's eyes at a half-caste girl there.

1888 J. Bryce Amer. Commonw. I. xix. 262 Local leaders cast sheep's eyes at the seat.

†b. to have a sheep's eye: (a) to be timorous; (b) see quot. 1711. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > fear > timidity > be timorous [verb (intransitive)]

to have a sheep's eye1598

the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > cunning > be cunning or act cunningly [verb (intransitive)]

havilonc1400

trantc1400

to draw a snecka1500

craft1530

to play (the) fox1599

politize1623

art1637

to have a sheep's eye1711

1598 S. Gosson Trumpet of Warre sig. D5^v Espialles were sent out to discouer the land of Promise, some of them hadde a sheepes eye:..Caleb had a Lions eye. [See Numbers xiii. 30, 31.]

1711 Spectator No. 250. ⁋5 We say such an one has a Sheep's Eye, not so much to denote the Innocence as the simple Slyness of the Cast.

2. An amorous glance.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > love > flirtation or coquetry > [noun] > amorous looks or demeanour > flirtatious look(s)

amorets1590

belgard1590

oeillade1592

sheep's eyes1604

belamour1610

oglea1668

whiting's eye1673

the glad eye1911

glad1927

1604 ‘W. Terilo’ Piece of Friar Bacons Prophesie 283 If a couple kindly kisse, The third thinkes somewhat is amisse. Now sheepes~eies are so watcht, That Lambes can hardly sleepe.

1842 S. Lover Handy Andy ii Tom's all ram's horns, and the widow is all sheep's eyes.

Derivatives

ˈsheep's-eye v. (transitive) to cast sheep's eyes at.

ΘΚΠ