• (RP) IPA: /skɒns/
• (GA) IPA: /skɑns/

sconce (plural sconces)

1. A light fixture.

   • […] tapers put into lanterns or sconces of several-coloured, oiled paper, that the wind might not annoy them.

2. A head or a skull.
3. A poll tax; a mulct or fine.
4. A piece of armor for the head; headpiece; helmet.
   • c. 1594, William Shakespeare, “The Comedie of Errors”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act II, scene ii]:

     I must get a sconce for my head.

• abscond

• French: applique murale, applique
• German: Wandlampe, Wandleuchte, Wandleuchter
• Italian: candelabro, candeliere da parete
• Russian: бра
• Spanish: aplique

sconce (sconces, present participle sconcing; past and past participle sconced)

1. (obsolete) to impose a fine, a forfeit, or a mulct.

sconce (plural sconces)

1. A type of small fort or other fortification, especially as built to defend a pass or ford.
   • 1670, John Milton, The History of Britain, […] , London: Printed by J.M. for James Alleſtry, […] , OCLC 78038412 ↗:

     No sconce or fortress of his raising was ever known either to have been forced, or yielded up, or quitted.

2. (obsolete) A hut for protection and shelter; a stall.
   • c. 1613–1616, Francis Beaumont; John Fletcher, “The Scornful Lady, a Comedy”, in Comedies and Tragedies […], London: Printed for Humphrey Robinson, […], and for Humphrey Moseley […], published 1679, OCLC 3083972 ↗, Act 5, scene 3:

     one that […] must raise a sconce by the highway and sell switches

3. The circular tube, with a brim, in a candlestick, into which the candle is inserted.
4. (architecture) A squinch.
5. A fragment of a floe of ice.
6. A fixed seat or shelf.

sconce (sconces, present participle sconcing; past and past participle sconced)

1. (obsolete) to shut within a sconce; to imprison.