crusty

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Sense 1

Meaning · English

Dried eye mucus.

Register: slang

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

Against the backdrop of muted stripes of color, Julieanne picked at her eyes’ crusties, and then combed her hair with the hand.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

Dried blood or serous fluid buildup following body piercing.

Register: slang

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “crusty” mean?

Dried eye mucus.

Is “crusty” formal or informal?

crusty is generally slang.