walleye
UK: ˈwɔːlaɪ | US: ˈwɑːlaɪ
n. 1. A condition in which one or both eyes turn outward abnormally (strabismus).
n. 2. A large North American freshwater fish (genus Sander) with glassy, light-reflecting eyes.
n. 3. (Informal) An eye with a pale iris or whitish appearance.
walleye = wall<light-reflecting or pale> + eye<organ of sight>
- wall (from Old English wæl, meaning "pale" or "foreign," later associated with "glassy/reflective" due to the fish's eye appearance).
- eye (from Old English ēage, meaning "organ of vision").
Etymology Origin:
The term walleye originally described the outward-turning eye condition (strabismus), where "wall" referenced the pale or unnatural appearance. Later, it was applied to the fish due to its distinctive glassy, light-reflecting eyes, which resemble the condition. The logic follows a visual metaphor—linking physical traits (pale/reflective) across medical and zoological contexts.
The doctor diagnosed the child with walleye and recommended corrective lenses.
Anglers prize walleye for its mild flavor and challenging catch.
His walleye gave him a perpetually distant gaze.
The aquarium’s walleye shimmered under the blue light.
Legends say the old sailor’s walleye could spot storms before clouds formed.