Discussion Forum—A Way with Words, a fun radio show and podcast about language

Hey Jack,

Made the mistake of saying "Hi Jack" once when I recognized an acquaintance at the airport. But that's another story.

I grew up in the Midwest, where we called the stuff simply "sleepers." I'm guessing this is a highly regional term. Where you from?

There's no "official" medical term for the stuff. Doctors just call it "eye discharge" and it's a natural protective mechanism to keep the eyes lubricated and free of infection. Sometimes here in AZ when there's a lot of dust in the air, and I have to spend time outside, my eyelids can be almost "glued shut" the next morning. A splash of water always gets rid of that.

Heimhenge said:

I grew up in the Midwest, where we called the stuff simply "sleepers."

I'm from New York State, where we called the stuff, more simply, "sleep."

Edited to add:
John Stewart of the Kingston Trio wrote "Daydream Believer," a song recorded by the Monkees in 1967, which included the following:

Oh, I could hide 'neath the wings of the bluebird as she sings.
The six o'clock alarm would never ring,
But it rings and I rise wipe, the sleep out of my eyes
My shavin' razor's cold, and it stings.

Please pardon the misplaced comma.