bifocaladj.n.
Originally U.S.
A. adj.
Having two foci; spec. designating spectacles with two segments of different focal lengths.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > healing > ophthalmology or optometry > aids to defective vision > [adjective] > types of spectacles
steel-rimmeda1400
steelbowed1606
young1667
near-sighted1796
trifocal1826
steel-bow1834
pantoscopic1836
window glass1885
bifocal1888
horn-rimmed1894
pebbled1928
thick-lensed1946
single-vision1962
wire-rim1968
wire-frame1977
Lennon1984
1888 G. M. Gould in Med. & Surg. Reporter LIX. 545 (title) A new style of bi-focal lenses.
1895 Pop. Sci. Monthly Aug. 470 Ordinary bifocal glasses.
1938 E. Ambler Cause for Alarm ii. 29 A..man of about fifty with rimless, bi-focal spectacles.
1968 New Scientist 21 Mar. 619/2 Bifocal and trifocal spectacles have been a blessing.
B. n. plural.
Bifocal spectacles.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > healing > ophthalmology or optometry > aids to defective vision > [noun] > spectacles > other types of spectacles
half-moon glasses1607
half-moon spectacles1607
blinkers1732
temple-spectacles1762
reading glass1853
distance glasses1864
horn spectacles1893
bifocal1899
trifocal1899
horn-rims1927
harlequin spectacles1940
harlequin glasses1945
library frame1948
aviator1951
library glasses1959
library spectacles1962
multifocals1962
wire-rim1968
1899 Ophthalmic Rev. XVIII. 270 Dr. G. C. Harlan..had shown..a pair of bi-focals made by Borsch in which the reading part is formed of a circular lens 15 mm. in diameter..sunk into the distant lens.
1936 G. B. Shaw Simpleton 31 Wears glasses. Bi-focals.
1960 J. Wain Nuncle 6 Harley Street types looking at me through their bifocals.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1933; most recently modified version published online December 2019).
<
adj.n.1888