'four-eyed' originates from English, specifically the words 'four' and 'eye', where 'four' comes from Old English 'feower' meaning '4' and 'eye' comes from Old English 'ēage' meaning 'eye'.

'four-eyed' developed as an English compound (from 'four' + 'eye') used literally for creatures with two pairs of eyes; later, from the 19th–20th centuries the form 'four-eyes' (or 'four-eyed') was used figuratively as a slang term for a person who wears glasses.

Initially it meant 'having four eyes' (literal), but over time it developed an additional figurative meaning of 'a person who wears glasses' (often used as an insulting term).