eye discharge; sleep; eye mucus
Refers to the crusty or sticky substance that forms in the corners of the eyes, especially after sleeping. A common, everyday word.
When I woke up in the morning, I had sleep in my eyes.
I removed the eye discharge and then washed my face.
Common mixed kanji-kana spelling.
Kanji spelling using 糞; less common but still seen.
Rare kanji form using 屎.
Compound of 目 (eye) and くそ (excrement/waste matter), literally 'eye waste'. The word is native Japanese and its origin is straightforward.