nine-eyed, a.
(ˈnaɪnaɪd)
Having nine eyes.
† 1. As an opprobrious epithet. Obs. rare.
| 1694 Echard Plautus Pref. A 3, I'll fetch ye out..for a damnable, prying, nine-ey'd Witch. 1703 Farquhar Inconstant ii. ii, You son of a nine-eyed whore, d'ye come to abuse me? |
2. nine-eyed eel, the lamprey. Sc.
| 1810 Neill List Fishes 30 (Jam.), Lesser Lamprey... The popular name Nine-eyed-eel arises from the spiracles being taken for eyes. 1838 Johnston in Proc. Berw. Nat. Club l. vi. 176 Sea-Lamprey. The Nine-eyed Eel. |
So nine-eyes. dial. (a) The lamprey. (b) The butterfish (Gunnellus vulgaris).
Cf. MDu. neghenoghe (Du. negenoog), MLG. negenoge (hence Da. negenöie, Sw. nejonöga), OHG. niunouga (MHG. -ouge, G. neunauge).
| (a) 1841 Hartshorne Salop. Ant. 517 Nine-eyes, the Ammocætes branchialis of Naturalists, so called from having a number of spiracles on each side, or branchial orifices in a lateral groove. 1880–4 [see nine-holes 3]. 1896 tr. Boas' Text Bk. Zool. 382 The Nine-eyes of Lampreys..have a circular sucking mouth with horny teeth. |
| (b) 1863 Couch Brit. Fishes II. 236 Butterfish. Swordick, Gunnel, Nine eyes. 1879 Satchell Gloss. Fish Names 5 Blennius gunnellus, Butter-fish.., Nine-eyes. |