I. ˈskän(t)s noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English sconse, sconce, from Middle French esconse hiding place, screened lantern with a handle, from Old French, from feminine of escons, past participle of escondre to hide, from Latin abscondere — more at abscond
1.
a. obsolete : a screened lantern or candlestick with a handle
b. : a flat candlestick with a handle
2.
a. : a bracket candlestick or group of candlesticks projecting or hanging from a plaque and usually forming an ornamental object secured to a wall
b. : an ornamental electric light fixture for a wall that resembles a bracket candlestick or group of candlesticks
c. : the circular socket of a candlestick into which a candle is inserted especially when the socket has a brim
3.
a. : head , skull
knock him about the sconce with a dirty shovel — Shakespeare
b. : brains , sense
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Dutch schans, from German schanze, from Middle High German, fagot, fascine, sconce
1. : a detached or isolated defensive work ; specifically : a counterfort or redoubt built to defend a particular point
2. : a protecting cover or screen : protection , shelter
III. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
obsolete : to provide with a sconce entrench , shelter
IV. ˈskän(t)s transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: origin unknown
: fine
V. noun
( -s )
: a fine imposed at an English university for a breach of rules or customs