SCONCE


Meaning of SCONCE in English

I. ˈskän(t)s noun

Etymology: 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

Date: 15th century

1. : a bracket candlestick or group of candlesticks ; also : an electric light fixture patterned on a candle sconce

2. : head , skull

II. noun

Etymology: Dutch schans, from German Schanze

Date: 1571

: a detached defensive work

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.