'ringed-eyed' originates from Modern English as a compound of 'ringed' and 'eyed'; 'ringed' is the past participle of 'ring' (from Old English 'hring') meaning 'a circular band', and 'eyed' is formed from 'eye' (Old English 'ēage') meaning 'eye'.

'ringed' comes from Old English 'hring' > Middle English 'ring(e)' meaning 'circle, band'; 'eyed' reflects the adjective-forming use of 'eye' (Old English 'ēage'). These elements combined in Modern English to form descriptive compounds like 'ringed-eyed'.

Initially the components referred simply to a 'ring' and an 'eye'; over time the compound came to mean 'having rings (often dark) around the eyes', a descriptive phrase for appearance or condition.