pince-nez

noun

paⁿs-ˈnā 

pan(t)s-

plural pince-nez paⁿs-ˈnā(z) 

pan(t)s-

: eyeglasses clipped to the nose by a spring

Illustration of pince-nez

Examples of pince-nez in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Inside, a huge man with a knee-length beard and red hat greeted my daughters, his eyes sparkling behind a pair of pince-nez. —Monisha Rajesh, Travel + Leisure, 23 Dec. 2023

Word History

Etymology

French, from pincer to pinch + nez nose, from Latin nasus — more at nose

First Known Use

1876, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

pince-nez

noun

pan(t)-ˈsnā

plural pince-nez

-ˈsnā(z)

: eyeglasses clipped to the nose by a spring