canthus

[prettygoodword]

canthus (KAN-thuhs), pl. canthi - n., either of the angles formed by the meeting of an eye's upper and lower eyelids.


The side towards the nose is the inner canthus or epicanthus, and the side towards the ear is the outer canthus. Not commonly encountered unless you are an anatomist, except in the hidden form epicanthic fold, where the upper eyelid overlaps the lower one such that the epicanthus is partially hidden -- epicanthus is on the right, visible canthus on the left:


Thanks, WikiMedia!

Taken in 1646 from Latin, from Ancient Greek kanthós, corner of the eye/eyelid, of uncertain origin but quite possibly an indiginous language spoken in the area before the arrival of the Proto-Greeks. (There's a possibly PIE root, but the pronunciation shifts required don't match expected patterns.)

---L.

Comments

[full_metal_ox]

There’s one lay context where you’ll encounter this a lot: incel discourse loves to bemoan their departure from a presumed ideal Canthal Tilt (as well as things like wrist circumference) as one of the thousand and three reasons they can’t get laid.

(Meanwhile, women—who can’t be bothered to consult incel discourse, and vice versa, have been swooning in large numbers over BTS.)

[prettygoodword]

I feel entirely justified in my life decision to ignore incel discourse.

[full_metal_ox]

Wise man. Here’s something else germane to the topic, and a lot more edifying: a chart of eye shapes as described in Chinese literature, by ZeldaCW on Tumblr—demonstrating that there are ways to dwell on your character’s eyes besides rummaging through the metaphorical jewel box or pantry shelf:

https://zeldacw.tumblr.com/post/644803709003497472/i-sketched-various-eye-shapes-that-were-often

[prettygoodword]

I knew 2/3 of those -- some show up in classical poetry -- but I still don't get the difference between phoenix and fox.

[full_metal_ox]

Looks as though the fox eye angles slightly about 1/3 of the way out—although not as sharply as the triangle eye.