eyelid

American  

[ahy-lid] / ˈaɪˌlɪd /

noun

1. the movable lid of skin that serves to cover and uncover the eyeball.

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eyelid British  

/ ˈaɪˌlɪd /

noun

1. either of the two muscular folds of skin that can be moved to cover the exposed portion of the eyeball

2. Also called: clamshell.  aeronautics a set of movable parts at the rear of a jet engine that redirect the exhaust flow to assist braking during landing

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Etymology

Origin of eyelid

Middle English word dating back to 1200–50; eye, lid

Example Sentences

“Equipped with a prosthesis simulating a glass eye over his pupil,” we are told, Mr. Day-Lewis “practiced hitting it with the tip of his knife without batting an eyelid.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Tirayut says his oldest daughter, six, "had nosebleeds, a rash, and an allergic reaction in her eyes, to the point where her eyelids were swollen".

From BBC

On my closed eyelids the sun glimmered and blazed.

From Literature

She snuggled into it, so drowsy that she couldn’t even lift her eyelids... much too drowsy to crawl into her sleeping-sack ...

From Literature

“It seems that Mrs. Blythe is accusing you of . . .” Mrs. Kuen blinkered her eyelids and cleared a catch in her throat.

From Literature