an infection of the sebaceous gland of the eyelid
A bacterial infection in the eyelash or eyelid.
Archaic form of sty. (shelter for pigs)
The word "stye" likely originated in the 17th century as a back-formation from the Middle English styanye. This earlier term came from Old English words meaning "to climb" and "eye," originally describing a small tumor that rises on the edge of the eyelid.