lorgnette

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a pair of eyeglasses mounted in a frame with a handle and held in front of the eyes rather than worn

   Gwendolen examines Cecily carefully through a lorgnette before questioning her.

2. 2
   noun

   a small opera glass or similar viewing instrument fitted with a handle

   From her theatre box, she raised a lorgnette to inspect the actors' costumes.

Borrowed from French lorgnette, formed from lorgner ('to look sidelong, squint, or ogle') + the diminutive suffix -ette. The name links the handheld optical instrument with the act of peering closely or scrutinizing someone.

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