nose glasses

alternative noseglasses · alternative nose-glasses

1. historicalpluralplural onlyA style of eyeglasses without earpieces, often attached to a cord or ribbon allowing them to be hung around the neck.

   1885, Vanity Fair, Volume 33, p. 140, “Diary of Rasper, M.P.,” Speaker, nervously twiddling nose-glasses, instinctively stretches out hand for new Procedure Rules, like Old Bailey Judge fumbling for black cap.

   3 more examples

   1825, William Henry Pyne (as Ephraim Hardcastle), The Twenty-Ninth of May, London: Knight and Lacey, Volume 1, Chapter 4, p. 105, Old Waller, elbowing his way through the crowd, planted himself right before his shop, putting on his nose-glasses, and measuring the amount of the damage;

   There was blood on the altar steps, and on the floor below, where his noseglasses, unbroken, on the end of their black ribbon, lay.

   1929, Dashiell Hammett, The Dain Curse, New York: Vintage, published 1972, Part 2, Chapter 10, p. 81

   Raising his head, Mr. Elkin took off his noseglasses and rubbed at the inflamed prints on either side of his nose.

   1964, Hortense Calisher, Extreme Magic, Boston: Little, Brown, page 124

   Synonyms: pince-nez, pinch-nose glasses

2. pluralplural onlyA pair of eyeglasses (or eyeglass frames) to which is attached a hollow false nose, worn as a humorous disguise.

   The magic shop purveyed such goodies as the arrow-through-the-head and nose glasses, props I turned into professional assets later on.

   2007, Steve Martin, Born Standing Up: A Comic’s Life, New York: Scribner, published 2008, page 40