lunettes

Lunettes is a term with several related meanings. In English, it most commonly refers to eyeglasses or spectacles, a borrowed usage from French. In this sense, lunettes (glasses) are frames that hold lenses in front of the eyes to correct vision, protect the eyes, or reduce glare. They come in a wide range of frame materials, including metal, plastic, and acetate, and can feature various lens types such as single-vision, bifocal, or progressive lenses. Frames are offered in numerous shapes (round, rectangular, aviator, cat-eye, and others) and can be designed for everyday wear, sports, or fashion. Care practices include cleaning lenses with soft cloths and proper storage to avoid scratches, as well as regular prescription updates when vision changes.

Lunettes can also denote architectural elements. In architecture and archaeology, a lunette is a crescent-shaped or semicircular window, niche, or wall projection. Such features may be used to admit light, ornament a facade, or provide a viewpoint from a fortification or church. Lunettes can appear as decorative or functional openings and are often contrasted with rectangular or circular openings in the same structure.

The term’s usage varies by region and field, with “lunettes” more likely to be encountered in French contexts or in historical descriptions of eyewear. While primarily associated with eyewear in contemporary English, the architectural sense remains a recognized and distinct meaning in architectural history.