1940s; earliest use found in Kylie Tennant (1912–1988), novelist and playwright. Apparently from mutt + eye, although the reason for the name is unknown; compare similar collocations in quot. 1966.
Definition of mutt-eye in US English:
mutt-eye
nounˈmʌtʌɪ
Australian slang
Cut corn.
Origin
1940s; earliest use found in Kylie Tennant (1912–1988), novelist and playwright. Apparently from mutt + eye, although the reason for the name is unknown; compare similar collocations in quot. 1966.