Smooth, transparent, and shiny like glass, or having a blank or dull, lifeless expression in the eyes.
From Old English 'glæs' meaning 'glass,' with the adjectival suffix '-y' added. The dual meaning—literal and metaphorical for an empty stare—developed over centuries.
When we describe someone's eyes as 'glassy,' we're using the same word for a physical material to describe an emotional state—a haunting metaphor suggesting the soul has become as transparent and empty as glass.
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