black eye

noun
1.
discoloration of the skin around the eye, resulting from a blow, bruise, etc.
2.
a mark of shame, dishonor, etc.:
These slums are a black eye to our town.
3.
damaged reputation:
Your behavior will give the family a black eye.
Origin
1595-1605
British Dictionary definitions for black eye

black eye

noun
1.
bruising round the eye
Word Origin and History for black eye
n.

"discoloration around the eye from injury" c.1600, from black (adj.) + eye (n.). Figurative sense of "injury to pride, rebuff" is by 1744; that of "bad reputation" is from 1880s. In reference to dark eyes, often as a mark of beauty, from 1660s. Black-eyed, of peas, attested from 1728. The black-eyed Susan as a flower (various species) so called from 1881, for its appearance. It also was the title of a poem by John Gay (1685-1732), which led to a popular British stage play of the same name in the mid-19c.

All in the Downs the fleet was moored,
The streamers waving in the wind,
When black-eyed Susan came aboard,
"Oh! where shall I my true love find?
Tell me, ye jovial sailors, tell me true,
If my sweet William sails among the crew?"

black eye in Medicine

black eye n.
A bruised discoloration of the flesh surrounding the eye.

Slang definitions & phrases for black eye

black eye

noun phrase
  1. An eye surrounded with darkened areas of contusion; mouse, shiner (1600s+)
  2. A bad reputation; an adverse and damaging public image: That story gave me a black eye (1880s+)

Idioms and Phrases with black eye

black eye

A mark of shame, a humiliating setback, as in That there are enough homeless folks to need another shelter is a black eye for the administration. This metaphor alludes to having discolored flesh around the eye resulting from a blow. The term is also used literally, as in The mugger not only took Bill's wallet but gave him a black eye. [ Late 1800s ]