Also Cyclop. Pl. Cyclopes; also Cyclops, Cyclopses. [a. L. Cyclōps, -ōpem, a. Gr. Κύκλωψ lit. ‘round-eyed,’ f. κύκλο-ς circle + -ὤψ eye. In It. and Sp. Ciclope, Pg. and F. Cyclope, whence Eng. Cyclop.]
1. One of a race of one-eyed giants in ancient Greek mythology, who forged thunderbolts for Zeus. Hence often used allusively.
α. sing. Cyclops, pl. Cyclopes; but the latter in early use may be like F. Cyclopes, pl. of Cyclope.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, III. x. 39. A huge peple we se Of Ciclopes cum hurland to the port.
1561. T. Norton, Calvin’s Inst., I. 7. Vnlesse the Epicureans like the Giauntes Cyclopes would … make warre against God.
1645. Milton, Tetrach. (1851), 234. Such an obdurat Cyclops, to have but one eye for this text.
1802. Wordsw., Daisy, iv. A little cyclops, with one eye Staring to threaten and defy.
1883. Liddell & Scott, Gr. Lex. (ed. 7). s.v., In Hesiod Theogony 140, we find three Cyclopes … who forged the thunderbolts for Zeus.
β. sing. Cyclop, pl. Cyclops. [F. Cyclope, -s.]
1592. R. D., Hypnerotomachia, 3 b. Achemenides being afraide of the horrible Cyclops.
1602. Shaks., Ham., II. ii. 511. And neuer did the Cyclops hammers fall On Mars his Armours.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 245. The Cyclops, at th’ Almighty Nod, New Thunder hasten for their angry God.
1725. Pope, Odyss., IX. 473. The Cyclops all that round him dwell. Ibid., 484. The Cyclop from his den replies.
1819. Shelley, Cyclops, 111. Cyclops, who live in caverns, not in houses.
1855. Macaulay, Hist., IV. xix. 321. In front of the helmet was a huge glass eye like that of a cyclop.
γ. pl. Cyclopses.
1681. P. Rycaut, trans. Gracian’s Critick, 206. What shall I say of so many Cyclopses.
1819. Shelley, Cyclops, 25. The one-eyed children of the Ocean God, The man-destroying Cyclopses.
2. Zool. A genus of small fresh-water copepods, having an eye (apparently single, but really double) situated in the middle of the front of the head.
1849–52. Todd, Cycl. Anat., IV. 967/1. The metamorphosis of the eyes in … Cyclops.
1860. Gosse, Rom. Nat. Hist., 63. Tiny cyprides and cyclopes disporting in the umbrageous groves of their world.
3. attrib. and Comb. (Cf. CYCLOPE a.).
1682. Dryden, Medal, 226. Then, Cyclop-like, in humane Flesh to deal.
1687. Third Coll. Poems, A Warning (1689), 29/1. His Cyclop Priests will make you truckle under.
1803. Sarrett, New Pict. London, 177. A Cyclops pig … because it has only one eye … placed in the middle of the forehead.
