Pince-nez are old-fashioned glasses that consist of two lenses that fit tightly onto the top of your nose and do not have parts that rest on your ears.
pince-nez in British English
(ˈpænsˌneɪ, ˈpɪns-, French pɛ̃sne)
nounWord forms: pluralpince-nez
eyeglasses that are held in place only by means of a clip over the bridge of the nose
Word origin
C19: French, literally: pinch-nose
pince-nez in American English
(ˌpænsˈneɪ; ˌ pɪnsˈneɪ; French pɛ̃sˈneɪ)
noun
Word forms: pluralˌpince-ˈnez (ˌpænsˈneɪz; French ˌpænsˈneɪ)
eyeglasses without temples, kept in place by a spring gripping the bridge of the nose
Word origin
Fr < pincer, to pinch + nez, nose
Examples of 'pince-nez' in a sentence
pince-nez
She held her pince-nez to her eyes and examined her niece critically, her gaze travelling down her form.
Appiganesi, Lisa DREAMS OF INNOCENCE (2001)
Small, thin, birdlike, she wore a pair of pince-nez on her beaky nose.
Secombe, Fred GOODBYE CURATE (2001)
She adjusted her pince-nez spectacles and extracted a document from a brown paper envelope.
Secombe, Fred GOODBYE CURATE (2001)
He drew breath, then looked up, peering over his pince-nez.