Monocle
/ˈmɒn.ə.kəl/noun
A single eyeglass held in place by the eye socket or facial muscles.
Did you know?Monocle comes through French from Greek roots meaning “one” and “eye,” so even this tiny status symbol is built from ancient language magic.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
monoklos
“single, one-eyed or one-lensed (from monos + oklos/oklos-related form)?”
18th Century
French
monocle
“a single eyeglass”
Late 18th Century
English
monocle
“a single eyeglass, especially for one eye”
Ancient Greek
Greek
monos + kyklos
“one + circle (source of the lens-related form in French)”