Eyewink

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A very brief moment, as quick as the closing and opening of an eye
2. An instant so short that it passes in the time it takes to blink
3. The briefest span of time, measured by the flicker of a single wink

Etymology: "Eyewink" is a plain compound of "eye" and "wink," with no hidden history behind it. "Wink," the brief closing and opening of one eye, is an Old English word, and "eye" is likewise native English stock, so the combination is about as transparent as English compounds get. The noun names a momentary signal made with the eye, the kind of quick glance that conveys a message without words. Because the two parts are both everyday Germanic words, the term reads exactly as its parts suggest, and it belongs to the same family of expressions as "eyebrow" and "eyelash," where a body part is joined to an action or feature to name a precise gesture.

Synonyms: wink, blink