The origin of this compound noun is definitely from one of several African languages that possess a similar contruction. It is common knowledge that a lot of the Africans that were taken to the Carribean came from Western and Central Africa. Examples of African languagess with this construction are:1. IGBO (Eastern Nigeria): In Igbo, the word for "tears" is "Anya Mmiri", where Anya=eyes & Mmiri=water, therefore, Anya Mmiri literally means "Eye Water" or "Yai Waata".2. LINGALA (Eastern DR Congo): In Lingala, the word for tears is "Mai ya Miso", where Mai=water &amp; ya Miso=of eyes, therefore, Mai ya Miso literally means "Water of Eyes"There are probably many other African languages that share a similar concept of "Tears".

Tears. Drops of clear salty liquid that flow from the eye when one is crying or the eye is irritated.

eye water

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