Visors

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of protective headgear with a shield extending from the front, designed to block sunlight or debris from the eyes
2. Equipment worn on the head that features a peak or brim, primarily used to shield the eyes from harsh light or environmental hazards
3. Headwear that displays a flat brim and open crown, often employed in various activities to prevent sun exposure to the face and eyes

Etymology: "Visors" is the plural of "visor," so it names more than one of the head-worn pieces with a peak or brim. The singular comes from Middle English "viser," borrowed from Anglo-Norman "viser," which in turn descends from Old French "visiere," a word tied to the idea of seeing. The root is the Latin "visus," meaning sight, the same source behind words like "vision" and "visual." The sense of the word has shifted in a useful way. Medieval "visiere" referred to the movable front part of a helmet, the piece that could be raised or lowered over the face. That is why the word's core idea is about covering or revealing the face, rather than about the brim of a cap. The sun-shielding cap that the modern meaning describes is a later, looser application of the same concept: a device for controlling what the eyes are exposed to.

Synonyms: shields, faceguards