From Goo-Goo Eyes to the Oeillade
The fascinating history of the archaic word for a flirting glance
Have you ever been at a bar or restaurant and been the object of an oeillade? If so, you might have been blushing or smiling — or both. An oeillade is actually very flattering (unless you have ereuthrophobia, fear of blushing) — it is defined as a glance, especially a flirting or amorous glance. An oeillade can also be a secret or furtive glance. Pronounced “er YAAD,” the word is derived from the Middle French word oeillade (meaning “glance”), from the French oeil (meaning “eye”), derived from the Latin oculus (meaning “eye”) and the word forming element -ade that denotes an action. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the first known use was by British dramatist Robert Greene (1558–1592) who wrote popular blank-verse romantic comedies. He was England’s first successful writer, paving the way for another famous Elizabethan dramatist, William Shakespeare (1554–1616). The following excerpt is from Greene’s A Disputation between a He Cony-Catcher and a She Cony-Catcher published in 1592 [a cony-catcher is Elizabethan slang for a con man or thief] :
“Besides, I have here laid open the wily wisdom of over-wise courtesans, that with their cunning can draw on not only poor novices, but such as hold themselves masters of their occupation. What flatteries they use to bewitch, what sweet words to inveigle, what simple holiness to entrap, what amorous glances, what smirking oeillades, what cringing courtesies, what stretching adios, following a man like a bloodhound, with their eyes white, layout out of hair, what frouncing of tresses, what paintings, what ruffs, cuffs, and braveries, and all to betry the eyes of the innocent novice, whom when they have drawn on to the bent of their bow, they strip like the prodigal child, and turn out of doors like an outcase of the world.” [From the chapter “To All Gentlemen, Merchants, Apprentices, and Country Farmers”]
Most notably, William Shakespeare uses the word in King Lear, specifically in Act IV, Scene V, lines 23–26). In this scene Regan (King Lear’s daughter) wants Oswald (Goneril’s steward) to dissuade Goneril (Regan’s sister) from pursuing Edmund (the illegitimate son of the Earl of Gloucester), whom she intends to marry. Regan:
“I know your lady does not love her husband; / I am sure of that; and at her late being here / She gave strange oeiliads and most speaking looks / To noble Edmund. I know you are of her bosom.”
The notes in Horace Furness’ Variorum Edition of King Lear (1880) cites Randle Cotgrave’s A Dictionarie of the French and English Tongues (1611) who defines oeillade as “an amorous look, affectionate winke, wanton aspect, lustfull iert [prodding], or passionate cast of the eye, a Sheepes eye [a shy longing usually amorous glance].” Some modern editions of King Lear (eg, The Folger Shakespeare) use the word “eliads” rather than “oedillades.”
One of the most fascinating studies of the development of terms in the realm of love is Julie Coleman’s brilliant work titled Love, Sex, and Marriage: A Historical Thesaurus (1999). Sadly, this incredible reference book is exceedingly difficult to acquire since it was published by an obscure publisher. Nevertheless, when we open the book and turn to the heading of “Flirtatious Looks” on page 141, we find dozens of delightful synonyms for oeillade including sheep’s eyes (1529), babies in someone’s eyes (1682), ogle (1682), look sideways (1844,) Romeo-gaze (1863), lamb’s eyes (1864), goo-goo eyes (1897), glad-eye (1903), googly eyes (1919), and google (1938). This last one certainly gives the expression “Did you google him (or her)?” new meaning, no?
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