[L., a. Gr. Ἀργός.]
1. A mythological person fabled to have had a hundred eyes. Hence, a very vigilant person, a watcher or guardian.
1387. Trevisa, Descr. Brit. (Caxton), 37. They ben in araye tormentours in wynnyngis argi.
1557. Myrr. Mag., Induct., xvii. With more then Argus’ eyes.
1580. Tusser, Husb., xlix. If cheeses in dairie haue Argusses eies.
1741. Richardson, Pamela (1824), I. 65. I hope still, Argus, to be too hard for thee.
1855. Milman, Lat. Chr. (1864), IX. XIV. x. 349. The Argus-eyes of the still ubiquitous clergy.
[After the death of Argus, his eyes were transferred by Hera to the tail of the peacock.]
1596. Spenser, F. Q., I. iv. 17. Fayre pecocks … full of Argus eyes their tayles dispredden wide.
2. A genus of pheasants, natives of Asia, of which one species (A. giganteus) is as large as a turkey.
1768. Gentl. Mag., XXXVIII. 521. The argus … is the largest species of pheasant yet known.
1829. Griffith, etc., Cuvier, VIII. 237. The argus was brought for the first time to Batavia from Malacca in 1780.
1834. Malte-Brun’s Univ. Geog., III. 431. The coo-ow, or Argos pheasant, is remarked for its uncommon beauty.
3. A name for certain butterflies of the genus Polyommatus, with many eye-like spots on the wings.
1827. Jermyn, Butterfly Coll. Vade Mecum, 146/1. Brown Argus; Scotch Argus.
4. Comb. or Attrib., as argus-eyed, -like a., extremely watchful or sharp-sighted; Argus-queller, a title of the god Mercury; argus-shell, name of a species of porcelain-shell; argus-snake (see quot.).
1603. Florio, Montaigne (1634), 305. No humane judgement is so … Argos-eied, but sometimes shal fall a sleep.
1861. Motley, Dutch Rep., Pref. 3. Argus-eyed Venetian envoys.
1663. Gerbier, Counsel, G ij a. All Creatures, from the Mole to the most Argus-like above ground.
1870. Bryant, Homer, II. XVI. 122. The mighty Argus-queller saw the maid.
1750. Sir J. Hill, Hist. Anim., 152. (Jod.). The argus shell, the oblong oculated porcellana.
1802. G. Shaw, Zool., III. 439. The Argus Snake … is beautifully marked from head to tail by numerous transverse rows of round ocellated red spots.
