sconce
(redirected from Sconcing)Also found in: Thesaurus, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
sconce 1
(skŏns)n.
A small defensive earthwork or fort.
[Dutch schans, from German Schanze, from Middle High German.]
sconce 2
(skŏns)n.
1. A decorative wall bracket for holding candles or lights.
2. A flattened candlestick that has a handle.
3. Slang The human head or skull.
[Middle English, from Old French esconse, lantern, hiding place, from Medieval Latin scōnsa, from Latin abscōnsa, feminine past participle of abscondere, to hide away : ab-, abs-, away; see ab-1 + condere, to preserve; see dhē- in Indo-European roots.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
sconce
(skɒns)n
1. (Furniture) a bracket fixed to a wall for holding candles or lights
2. (Antiques) a flat candlestick with a handle
[C14: from Old French esconse hiding place, lantern, or from Late Latin sconsa, from absconsa dark lantern]
sconce
(skɒns)n
(Fortifications) a small protective fortification, such as an earthwork
[C16: from Dutch schans, from Middle High German schanze bundle of brushwood]
sconce
(skɒns)vb (tr)
1. to challenge (a fellow student) on the grounds of a social misdemeanour to drink a large quantity of beer without stopping
2. obsolete to fine (a student) for some minor misdemeanour
n
3. the act of sconcing
4. a mug or tankard used in sconcing
[C17: of obscure origin]
sconce
(skɒns)n
1. the head or skull
2. sense, brain, or wit
[C16: probably jocular use of sconce1]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
sconce1
(skɒns)n.
a bracket for candles or other lights, placed on a wall, mirror, picture frame, etc.
[1350–1400; Middle English sconce, sconse (< Old French esconce) < Medieval Latin scōnsa, aph. variant of abscōnsa, n. use of feminine past participle of abscondere to conceal; see abscond]
sconce2
(skɒns)n.
a small detached fort or defensive work, as to defend a gate or bridge.
[1565–75; < Dutch schans < German Schanze, orig. bundle of wood; compare ensconce]
sconce4
(skɒns)n.
1. the head or skull.
2. sense or wit.
[1560–70]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
sconce
Past participle: sconced
Gerund: sconcing
| Imperative |
|---|
| sconce |
| sconce |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. | sconce - a shelter or screen providing protection from enemy fire or from the weather shelter - a structure that provides privacy and protection from danger shelter - protective covering that provides protection from the weather |
| 2. | sconce - a small fort or earthwork defending a ford, pass, or castle gate earthwork - an earthen rampart | |
| 3. | sconce - a candle or flaming torch secured in a sconce light source, light - any device serving as a source of illumination; "he stopped the car and turned off the lights" | |
| 4. |  sconce - a decorative wall bracket for holding candles or other sources of lightwall bracket, bracket - a support projecting from a wall (as to hold a shelf) |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
sconce
n (with candles) → Wandleuchter m; (electric) → Wandleuchte f
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007