cockeye: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very lowInformal, slang, potentially dated/archaic in some senses.
Quick answer
What does “cockeye” mean?
An eye that is affected by strabismus (squint), turning abnormally inward or outward.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An eye that is affected by strabismus (squint), turning abnormally inward or outward.
Can refer to something that is crooked, misaligned, or viewed from an odd angle; also a slang term for being drunk.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is understood in both varieties but is not commonly used in contemporary speech. 'Cockeyed' as an adjective (meaning askew or absurd) is somewhat more frequent in AmE.
Connotations
Often carries a slightly humorous, informal, or even mildly derogatory connotation when referring to a person's eye. The 'drunk' sense is slang.
Frequency
Extremely low-frequency in modern corpora for both varieties. More likely found in historical texts, regional speech, or as part of the fixed adjective 'cockeyed'.
Grammar
How to Use “cockeye” in a Sentence
[Subject] has a cockeye.[Subject] looked at [Object] with a cockeye.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cockeye” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He cockeyed his head to get a better view of the tiny writing.
American English
- She cockeyed the picture on the wall, making it look crooked.
adverb
British English
- The picture hung cockeyed on the wall.
American English
- She looked at him cockeyed, not believing his story.
adjective
British English
- That's a completely cockeyed plan; it'll never work.
American English
- He was too cockeyed to walk straight after the party.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Only in historical or very specific technical contexts (e.g., fishing knot names).
Everyday
Rare; if used, it's informal, potentially humorous or descriptive of misalignment.
Technical
In fishing, 'cockeye' can refer to a type of hook or a specific knot. In mining (archaic), a small opening at the top of a shaft.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cockeye”
Strong
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cockeye”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cockeye”
- Using 'cockeye' in formal medical descriptions instead of 'strabismus'.
- Confusing 'cockeye' (noun) with the more common adjective 'cockeyed'.
- Misspelling as 'cock eye' (two words) when used as a single noun concept.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is informal and can be considered mildly offensive or humorous. More neutral terms like 'has a squint' or the medical term 'strabismus' are preferred.
'Cockeye' is primarily a noun referring to the eye itself. 'Cockeyed' is an adjective meaning crooked, absurd, or drunk.
No, its use is very rare in modern English. The adjective 'cockeyed' is encountered more often, but still belongs to informal registers.
Rarely. One might say 'to cockeye something' meaning to make it crooked or to look at it askance, but this is non-standard and highly informal.
An eye that is affected by strabismus (squint), turning abnormally inward or outward.
Cockeye is usually informal, slang, potentially dated/archaic in some senses. in register.
Cockeye: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkɒkʌɪ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkɑːkˌaɪ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Look at something cockeyed (look at it askew or with disbelief).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a COCK (rooster) looking at you with one EYE turned in a funny, crooked way.
Conceptual Metaphor
ASYMETRY/IMBALANCE IS CROOKEDNESS (A cockeye represents a physical deviation from the 'straight' norm).
Practice
Quiz
In which context might you encounter the term 'cockeye' in a technical sense?