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

Example Sentences

The Widow Ashton looked Penelope up and down through her pince-nez.

From Literature

Gamache does not solve crimes by adjusting his pince-nez and issuing a deduction.

From Seattle Times

He showed me some pince-nez reading glasses that Guinness has gotten for him, which make him look even more like an 18th-century European count.

From New York Times

Improbably bedecked in a bow tie, pince-nez glasses and a mailman’s hat, he held a pickle like a cigar and cracked wise in a voice borrowed from Groucho Marx.

From New York Times

A pair of cracked pince-nez balanced on the end of his twitching nose.

From Literature

Related Words

• specs
• sunglasses