Facepieces

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A component of a mask or helmet that covers the face
2. A part of a firearm that includes the area surrounding the muzzle and the mounting of the sight
3. A detachable section of a protective gear that is specifically fitted to shield facial features

Etymology: "Facepieces" is simply the plural of "facepiece", a compound of "face" and "piece". The sense here, a part of a firearm around the muzzle and the mounting for a sight, is a technical use of the same building blocks: "face" in the sense of a front or surface, and "piece" in its old meaning of a component or part of a larger object. Taken together the word describes a component whose function is defined by the surface it presents, which is why it works well as a descriptive term for a gunsmith.

Synonyms: mask, facade, cover, disguise, visage