'bright-eyed' originates from English, formed as a compound of the adjective 'bright' and the noun 'eye', where 'bright' traces to Old English 'beorht' meaning 'shining' and 'eye' traces to Old English 'eage' meaning 'eye'.

'bright' came from Old English 'beorht' and 'eye' from Old English 'eage'; compounds describing physical features (e.g. 'bright-eyed') appear in Middle English and later developed into the modern compound adjective 'bright-eyed'.

Initially it meant 'having shining or clear eyes' (a literal description); over time it acquired the broader sense of 'alert, lively, or enthusiastic' used figuratively.