sconce

¹ American  

[skons] / skɒns /

noun

1. a bracket for candles or other lights, placed on a wall, mirror, picture frame, etc.

2. the hole or socket of a candlestick, for holding the candle.

---

sconce ² American  

[skons] / skɒns /

noun

1. Fortification. a small detached fort or defense work, as to defend a pass, bridge, etc.

2. a protective screen or shelter.

---

verb (used with object)

sconced, sconcing

1. Fortification. to protect with a sconce.

2. Obsolete. to protect; shelter.

sconce ³ American  

[skons] / skɒns /

verb (used with object)

sconced, sconcing

1. (at English universities, especially formerly) to fine (an undergraduate) for a breach of rules or etiquette.

---

noun

1. a fine so imposed.

sconce ⁴ American  

[skons] / skɒns /

noun

1. the head or skull.

2. sense or wit.

---

sconce ¹ British  

/ skɒns /

verb

1. to challenge (a fellow student) on the grounds of a social misdemeanour to drink a large quantity of beer without stopping

2. obsolete to fine (a student) for some minor misdemeanour

---

noun

1. the act of sconcing

2. a mug or tankard used in sconcing

sconce ² British  

/ skɒns /

noun

1. a bracket fixed to a wall for holding candles or lights

2. a flat candlestick with a handle

---

sconce ³ British  

/ skɒns /

noun

1. the head or skull

2. sense, brain, or wit

---

sconce ⁴ British  

/ skɒns /

noun

1. a small protective fortification, such as an earthwork

---

Etymology

Origin of sconce¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English sconce, sconse, from Old French esconce, or directly from Medieval Latin scōnsa, shortening of abscōnsa, noun use of feminine past participle of abscondere “to conceal”; abscond

Origin of sconce²

First recorded in 1565–75; from Dutch schans, from German Schanze “entrenchment, fieldwork,” originally “bundle of sticks or wood; fagot”; ensconce ( def. )

Origin of sconce³

First recorded in 1610–20; origin uncertain

Origin of sconce⁴

First recorded in 1560–70; origin uncertain

Example Sentences

Other wall-mounted falcon sculptures in wood, bronze and glass suggest sconces, trophies and Greco-Roman urns.

From The Wall Street Journal

The simple set, by the collective dots, features a purple-lacquered dining table and chairs with cabriole legs; flowers in sconces; and soft green walls.

From The Wall Street Journal

He flings his lunch against the wall, shattering a piece of Nancy Reagan’s china and leaving a trail of ketchup and hamburger grease on the wallpaper and faux gilt sconce recently procured from Home Depot.

From Salon

George G. Green built for his daughter in 1912, was full of intact original details, like decorative tiles in the faculty bathroom, bronze sconces in the hallways and an old intercom system.

From Los Angeles Times

Original cast-iron sconces, iron handrails and chandeliers remained in the house, which is on the National Register of Historic Places.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• confiscate
• levy
• punish