sconce

sconce · noun¹

1. Latin · derived fromabsconsus“hidden”
2. Old French · derived fromesconse“lantern”
3. Middle English · inherited fromsconce
4. English todaysconce

From Middle English sconce, sconse (“candlestick or lantern (with screen)”), from Old French esconse (“lantern”), from Latin absconsus (“hidden”), perfect passive participle of abscondō (“hide”). Cognate with abscond.

sconce · noun, verb²

Unclear. Perhaps a use of sconce (“light fixture”) or sconce (“fortification”), but seemingly older than the latter

sconce · noun, verb³

1. Middle Dutch · borrowed fromschans
2. English todaysconce

Borrowed from Middle Dutch schans, cognate with German Schanze.