† visernn.
Obsolete.
A visor or vizard. Also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > hiding, concealing from view > means of concealment > dress, garb > [noun] > for face or head
visorc1380
visernc1400
visurec1460
visiere1485
vizard1558
vision1563
bo-peeper1609
larvea1656
outsidea1656
vizard-mask1668
visor-mask1672
face mask1754
crape1785
false face1817
bird mask1853
vizarding1861
stocking mask1966
ski-mask1973
c1400 Anturs of Arth. xxxii Then he auaylet vppe his viserne fro his ventalle.
1483 Cath. Angl. 402/1 A vyserne, larva.
1561 J. Daus tr. H. Bullinger Hundred Serm. vpon Apocalips ix. 66 Thus the very sonne of God plucketh of the viserne from these varlettes.
a1572 J. Knox Hist. Reformation Scotl. in Wks. (1848) II. 406 For I see the pure flock in no less daunger nor it hes bene at ony time befoir, except that the Devill hes gottin a visserne upon his face.
Derivatives
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > hiding, concealing from view > means of concealment > dress, garb > wear a mask [verb (intransitive)]
visern1483
1483 Cath. Angl. 402/1 To vyserne, larvare.
† †ˈviserned adj. Obsolete = visored adj.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > hiding, concealing from view > means of concealment > dress, garb > [adjective] > to conceal head or face
visoredc1380
in masker1519
in maska1533
muffled1566
vizarded1593
viserneda1599
masked1599
bemasked1620
larvated1623
crape-faced1815
bird-masked1876
stocking-masked1971
ski-masked1976
a1599 R. Rollock Serm. ix, in Sel. Wks. (1849) I. 406 All ar visorned folk: he cummis out, scho cummis out, all masked and disaguysed.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1917; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
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n.c1400