sconce

1 of 2

noun (1)

ˈskän(t)s 

1

: a bracket candlestick or group of candlesticks

also : an electric light fixture patterned on a candle sconce

2

: head, skull

sconce

2 of 2

noun (2)

: a detached defensive work

Examples of sconce in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

This involves light fixtures at multiple levels, like a lamp on the table, sconce on the wall, and chandelier or spotlight on the ceiling. —Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 5 Sep. 2024

Postwar Italy too offers a through line, whether in the case of the mirror, rosewood floating shelf, and Gino Sarfatti sconces that compose the makeshift entry, or the twin Franco Albini armchairs that face off in the living room. —Sam Cochran, Architectural Digest, 4 Sep. 2024

And while the crystal Waterford chandelier is the undoubted showstopper, the new owners won’t want to overlook original brass sconces that held candles in the era before electrical lights became widespread. —Mary Carole McCauley, Baltimore Sun, 4 Apr. 2024

Lighting: Vintage custard bowl sconces, vintage French industrial pendants, and a DeVOL Small Wide Pleat Porcelain light. —Morgan Goldberg, Architectural Digest, 16 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Anglo-French sconce, *esconse screened candle or lantern, from escunser to hide, obscure, from Old French escons, past participle of escondre to hide, from Vulgar Latin *excondere, alteration of Latin abscondere — more at abscond

Noun (2)

Dutch schans, from German Schanze

First Known Use

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1571, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

sconce

noun

ˈskän(t)s

: a lamp or candlestick or group of candlesticks fastened to a wall