Eyewater

/ˈaɪˌwɔtər/ noun

Definition

A medicated solution used to wash or treat the eyes; also a humorous or archaic term for tears.

Etymology

From 'eye' + 'water' (a liquid, often medicated). A compound dating to at least the 17th century for solutions applied to or around the eyes for medicinal purposes.

Kelly Says

Before pharmaceutical eyedrops, 'eyewater' was a catch-all term for any liquid remedy for eyes—herbalists would make these from rosewater, witch hazel, or plant extracts, and the practice survives today in products like 'golden eye drops' used across Asia.

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