occhiali Italian · revision 39306

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1305–1306, Giordano da Pisa|origins=la oculus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /okˈkja.li/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''occhiali''' ''m pl'' (plural only)^(Wiktionary)

+ Old Italian also wrote ''ochiali''.^(TLIO)^(GDLI|11, 756)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the plural of [[occhiale]], used as a noun, an adjective meaning “of the eye” formed [[af|it|occhio|-ale]].^(Nocentini 2010)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Wiktionary)^(TLIO) Byzantine Greek borrowed it as [[m|gkm|ὀκκιάλι|tr=okkiáli]], the source of [[el|κιάλι|tr=kiáli]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The first record is in a sermon of Giordano da Pisa preached in Florence in 1305–1306, who says that the art of making spectacles had been found less than twenty years before (''non è ancora venti anni, che si trovò l'arte di fare gli occhiali''), and calls it one of the best and most necessary arts in the world.^(DELI 1999)^(TLIO)^(Prati 1951|706) The sense is a pair of glass lenses placed before the eyes to correct poor sight.^(TLIO)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Prati notes that spectacles were already known in Venice in the 13th century, under the name ''roidi da ogli'', and that Alessandro della Spina, who died in 1313, was long held to be their inventor.^(Prati 1951|706) They appear again in Sacchetti's stories, before 1400.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ Later uses name types by their lenses or frames, such as ''occhiali affumicati'' or ''occhiali d'oro'', and protective glasses.^(GDLI|11, 756) Diminutives followed: ''occhialino'' and ''occhialetto'' for glasses without sides held up by a handle, and ''occhialaio'' for their maker.^(Prati 1951|706) In draughts ''fare gli occhiali'' is a move that places one's own piece between two exposed enemy pieces, so that one of them is lost.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011) The Indian cobra is ''cobra'' or ''serpente dagli occhiali'', from the marks on its hood.^(Treccani 2011)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1305–1306 – Giordano da Pisa speaks of the recent art of making ''occhiali''.^(DELI 1999)^(TLIO)

+ * Before 1400 – Spectacles appear in Sacchetti's stories.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 15th century – The adjective and noun ''occhiale'' is recorded.^(Nocentini 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|glasses]], [[m|en|spectacles]]: two lenses in a frame worn in front of the eyes to correct sight or to protect them: ''Senza gli occhiali non riesco a leggere il menu.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # ''(draughts)'' A move that places one's own piece between two unprotected opposing pieces, so that one of them is certain to be taken.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[occhialino]]

+ * [[occhialetto]]

+ * [[occhialaio]]

+ * [[occhialoni]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[occhio]]

+ * [[occhiale]]

+ * [[cannocchiale]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The word is used only in the plural: ''un paio di occhiali'', ''occhiali da sole'' (sunglasses), ''occhiali da vista'' (prescription glasses).^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)^(Wiktionary) ''Mettiti gli occhiali!'' is said to someone who fails to notice something obvious.^(Treccani 2011)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}