Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (also big eyes) avarice, greed, covetousness.

1821		J.F. Cooper Spy 161: ‘It must have been the money that disturbed him.’[...] ‘I nebber tink Johnny Birch had such big eye.’.
1916		J.G. Cruickshank Black Talk 31: ‘Big Eye’ typifies gluttony.
1950		Goldin et al. DAUL 27/1: Big-eye, n. A look of wonderment, covetousness, fear, etc.
c.1953		Babs Gonzales ‘Manhattan Fable’ 🎵 He pulled Freddy’s coat about his big eyes for the chick.
1979		F. Norman Too Many Crooks Spoil the Caper 38: There’s plenty of bunce around in this town for both of us, wivout anyone getting big eyes.

2. used as a teasing nickname.

1956

O. Duke Sideman 276: I’m all happy about it — big-eyes.

3. in positive use of sense 1, enthusiasm.

1961

R. Russell Sound 108: Big eyes to hear you bloe, man!

4. a stare, esp. when hostile or curious.

1950		see sense 1.
1958		J. Thompson Getaway 57: Those little inland villages [...] where every stranger gets the big-eye.

5. (US) the anus.

1985

‘Jennifer Blowdryer’ Modern English 70: anal orifice (n): [...] The big eye.