Definition of STYE

stye

Plural: styes

Noun

  • an infection of the sebaceous gland of the eyelid
  • A bacterial infection in the eyelash or eyelid.
  • Alternative form of sty (“shelter for pigs”).

Examples

  • "have a stye"
  • "suffer from a stye"

Origin / Etymology

First recorded in the 17th century; probably a back-formation from Middle English styanye (first recorded in the 15th century), which in turn comes from Old English stīgend (“a small tumour on the edge of the eyelid, stye”), from the verb stīgan (“to climb, ascend, rise”) + Middle English eie (“eye”). Equivalent to sty + eye.

Synonyms

eye infection, hordeolum, powk, sty

Scrabble Score: 7

stye is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
stye is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
stye is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 6

stye is a valid Words With Friends word