red-eye

The story

The noun is derived from red + eye; sense 2.3 (“strong but poor-quality whiskey”) and sense 3 (“overnight airplane flight”) are probably so named because they may cause people to develop bloodshot eyes. The verb is derived from the noun.

First known use, by meaning

• from 17th c. The common rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus), a freshwater fish.
• from 20th c. A species of cicada, Psaltoda moerens, native to eastern Australia.
• from 19th c. The red-eyed vireo (Vireo olivaceus), a small American songbird.
• from 19th c. Any of various sunfishes of the family Centrarchidae, especially the redeye bass (Micropterus coosae) or the rock bass (Ambloplites rupestris).
• from 20th c. A drink consisting of beer with tomato juice.
• from 19th c. A strong but poor-quality whiskey.
• from 20th c. Redness of the conjunctiva; especially when caused by conjunctivitis (pinkeye).
• from 20th c. Redness in the eye(s) of someone in a colour photograph, as an unwanted consequence of light from a flash reflecting off blood vessels in the retina.