[f. EYE sb.1 + TOOTH; cf. Ger. augenzahn, Du. oogtand.] A tooth immediately under or next to the eye, orig. one of the upper canine teeth (see CANINE tooth), but now extended to the lower also.
1580. Hollyband, Treas. Fr. Tong, Den Macheliére, the eye tooth.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts (1658), 379. If the eye teeth of a Lion be hung about the neck of a young childe…, they will keep him for ever from having any ach or pain in them [teeth].
1629. Chapman, Juvenal, 255. Live still gnashing of thy great eye-teeth.
1691. Ray, Creation, II. (1692), 41. The next [teeth] one on each side … called Canini, in English Eye Teeth.
1700. T. Brown, trans. Fresny’s Amusem. Ser. & Com., 87. The Eye-Teeth of Flying Toads.
1741. Monro, Anat. Nerves (ed. 3), 159. The two superior … are called Eye-teeth, from the Communication of Nerves which is betwixt them and the Eyes.
1831. R. Knox, Cloquet’s Anat., 77. The Upper Canine Teeth are the longest in the jaws, and for this reason, are vulgarly denominated Eye-teeth.
1863. Huxley, Man’s Place Nat., II. 81. Milk-teeth and permanent teeth. The former consist of four incisors…; two canines, or eye-teeth; and four molars … in each jaw.
fig. 1740. Pardon, Dyche’s Dict. (ed. 3), Eye-teeth … Quickness or sharpness of understanding and parts.
b. Phrases. Chiefly fig. To cut one’s eye-teeth: to get out of babyhood. To draw any one’s eye-teeth: to take the conceit out of him. † To have one’s eye-teeth: to be wide-awake.
1730. Morier, in Atterbury, Misc. Wks., V. 147. There is no dealing with him without having one’s eye teeth.
1837. Haliburton, Clockm., Ser. I. xvi. 147. Them are fellers cut their eye teeth afore they ever sot foot in this country, I expect.
1867. Dixon, New Amer., I. i. 1. Guess these Yanks must look alive … unless they should happen to enjoy having their eye-teeth drawn.
1870. Emerson, Soc. & Solit., Civiliz., Wks. (Bohn), III. 7. Like progress that is made by a boy ‘when he cuts his eye-teeth.’
