lorgnette

American  

[lawrn-yet] / lɔrnˈyɛt /

noun

1. a pair of eyeglasses mounted on a handle.

2. a pair of opera glasses mounted on a handle.

---

lorgnette British  

/ lɔːˈnjɛt /

noun

1. a pair of spectacles or opera glasses mounted on a handle

---

Etymology

Origin of lorgnette

1795–1805; < French, derivative of lorgner to eye furtively; see -ette

Explanation

An old-fashioned type of glasses that you hold up to your eyes with a handle is called a lorgnette. You might see a lady with a lorgnette enjoying the opera in an old movie. Lorgnettes were originally a type of jewelry, rather than functional eyeglasses. Later, they were used to enhance vision but considered more fashionable than spectacles that hooked over the ears. The disadvantage of a lorgnette is that you have to hold it up to your eyes in order to see clearly. The word comes from the French verb lorgner, "to squint," and lorgne, which means both "squinting" and also "cross-eyed or foolish."

Example Sentences

With only one little Strand of Wire or perchance a Steering Knuckle standing between her and a lot of Insurance Money, she retained both her Aplomb and the Lorgnette.

From Knocking the Neighbors by Ade, George

He was contributing at that time some much appreciated letters to various magazines under the signature of "The Lorgnette," which were subsequently republished as a volume bearing the same title.

From As I Remember Recollections of American Society during the Nineteenth Century by Gouverneur, Marian

The Lorgnette has just appeared in a volume.

From International Weekly Miscellany - Volume 1, No. 8, August 19, 1850 by Various

But one day a Scrappy Kid, whose Mother didn't have any Lorgnette or Diamond Ear-Bobs, spotted the Benevolent Lady.

From Fables in Slang by Newman, Clyde J.

She always carried a 99-cent Lorgnette in one Hand and a Smelling-Bottle in the Other.

From Fables in Slang by Newman, Clyde J.

Related Words

• specs
• sunglasses