pince-nez

American  

[pans-ney, pins-, pans-ney] / ˈpænsˌneɪ, ˈpɪns-, pɛ̃sˈneɪ /

noun

plural

pince-nez

1. a pair of glasses held on the face by a spring that grips the nose.

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pince-nez British  

/ pɛ̃sne, ˈpænsˌneɪ, ˈpɪns- /

noun

1. eyeglasses that are held in place only by means of a clip over the bridge of the nose

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Etymology

Origin of pince-nez

1875–80; < French: literally, (it) pinches (the) nose

Explanation

If your costume for the school play includes wearing pince-nez, never fear: all you need is a small pair of spectacles that clip on your nose. The most fun about this word, from French for "pinch nose," is pronouncing it in a highly affected way. It denotes a pair of eyeglasses without earpieces that get their grip by spring action on the schnozzle. You're most likely to come across someone wearing pince-nez in an old novel, since they were at the height of their popularity in the nineteenth century.

Related Words

• specs
• sunglasses