eyetooth

[ ahy-tooth ]

noun

, plural eye·teeth [ahy, -teeth].

1. Dentistry. a canine tooth of the upper jaw: so named from its position under the eye.

eyetooth

/ ˌaɪˈtuːθ /

noun

1. either of the two canine teeth in the upper jaw
2. give one's eyeteeth for
   to go to any lengths to achieve or obtain (something)

   I'd give my eyeteeth for a radio as good as that

Word History and Origins

Origin of eyetooth¹

First recorded in 1570–80; eye + tooth

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. cut one's eyeteeth,
   1. to gain sophistication or experience; become worldly-wise.
   2. Also cut one's eyeteeth on. to be initiated or gain one's first experience in (a career, hobby, skill, etc.).
2. give one's eyeteeth, to give something one considers very precious, usually in exchange for an object or situation one desires:

   She would give her eyeteeth for that job.

Example Sentences

The regiment earned renown for leading thousands of men in the July 18, 1863, storming of Fort Wagner, an eyetooth in the jaw of defenses around Charleston Harbor.

From Washington Post

I remind them that their grandparents would have given their eyeteeth for the vaccines they blithely shrug off.

From New York Times

Her teeth were large and crooked, eyeteeth missing.

From Literature

It was a fitting image for the way Junchang lived—both whimsical and up to his eyeteeth in work.

From Scientific American

“That boost in the memory system is something that many of us in neuroscience would give our eyeteeth to achieve,” he said.

From New York Times