Etymology

evil eye

Today it means: A wicked look conveying dislike or envy that in many cultures is believed to be able to cause bad luck or injury; also, the ability to cause bad luck or injury through such a look, supposed to be possessed by some people. Full definition →

Middle English ivel eie ← Old English eage yfel ← Latin oculus malus
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The story

  1. Latin · calque ofoculus malus
  2. Old English · inherited fromeage yfel
  3. Middle English · inherited fromivel eie“evil eye; envy”
  4. English todayevil eye

From Middle English ivel eie (“evil eye; envy”), from Old English eage yfel, a calque of Latin oculus malus, from oculus (“eye”) + malus (“bad, evil, wicked; destructive, hurtful, injurious; unfavourable, unlucky”).

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.