Visard

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈvɪzə(ɹ)d/

Definitions

1. A facial concealment tool traditionally utilized for anonymity or to transform one's appearance An ancient form of cover that serves to hide the face from sight or to disguise identity A type of mask historically worn to shield the features and allow for disguise or obscurity
2. A mask designed to cover the face, often used to hide identity or alter appearance
3. Headwear that completely hides facial features to provide privacy or disguise

Etymology: The face-covering sense was once a matter of armour. A "visor" was the movable front of a helmet, and the word traces back to Old French "vis," meaning face, which also gave English "visage." Before it named a disguise, it named a piece of protective metal, so a knight's visor and a masquerader's mask belonged to the same family of meanings. This spelling, "visard," is a variant of "vizard," which in turn is closely related to "visor." Its later sense of a mask worn to conceal the face, especially at masquerades and disguised outings, grew out of that helmet sense. The suffix "-ard" is uncertain in origin, so the exact route from "visor" to "vizard" is best described as a shifting spelling of the same root rather than a clearly separate formation.