pop-eyed, a. orig. U.S.
[pop-.]
Having bulging or prominent eyes; wide-eyed (with amazement, etc.).
| 1830 A. Royall Lett. from Alabama 176 The first countenance I caught, was Senator Foot of Connecticut—a handsome middle-sized black pop-eyed Yankee. 1860 Bartlett Dict. Amer., Pop-eyed, having prominent eyes. Southern. 1906 Atlantic Monthly Oct. 573 The class was open-mouthed, and the professor pop-eyed with wonder. 1923 R. D. Paine Comrades of Rolling Ocean ix. 152 They are simply pop-eyed to hear all about the speedy apprentice. 1937 John o' London's Weekly 22 Jan. 682/1 The king [sc. George III] fumbled for a few years with makeshift ministries,..and then committed his affairs to Lord North, an amiable pop-eyed creature, rather like himself in appearance. 1947 V. Nabokov Bend Sinister ii. 12 Paying perhaps terrific fines, but stopping the train. Say, why did you do it? the popeyed conductor might ask. 1952 Wodehouse Pigs have Wings iv. 74 The landlord of the Emsworth Arms..and the half dozen Shropshire lads who were propping up the establishment's outer wall had stamped her with the seal of their popeyed approval. 1973 ‘E. McBain’ Let's here It viii. 124 Her audience..watched her every move in pop-eyed fascination. 1978 A. Price '44 Vintage x. 131 He stared pop-eyed at Butler..then started to wave madly. |