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fencing mask

fencing mask

5.5
A protective face cover made of mesh worn in fencing
  • noun
translation icon : máscara de esgrima
  • She adjusted her fencing mask carefully before stepping onto the piste.

Examples

  • I still have a photograph of Tante Grete in her fencing costume, one hand on her hip, the fencing mask under her arm, the other hand holding the foil, ready to pierce my heart.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • And we're wearing fencing masks.

  • They wore unbleached white canvas or linen suits, like professional fencers, and also wore fencing masks.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • Fencers must wear a fencing mask to protect their faces during competitions.

  • The coach reminded everyone to put on their fencing masks before practicing.

Synonyms

mask
vsfencing mask
659 1.0

A covering worn on the face to hide, protect, or decorate it

is a specific sports protective covering made of fine mesh
face mask
vsfencing mask
2 1.8

A protective covering worn over the face in sports to prevent injury

is specific to a sword sport and uses fine mesh
face guard
vsfencing mask
  • US
1 3.9

A set of metal bars attached to the front of a football helmet that protects the player's face

is a standalone fine mesh covering used without a helmet
catcher's mask
vsfencing mask
  • US
1 3.4

A mask a baseball catcher wears to protect the face from being hurt

is used in a different sport and uses finer mesh construction
welder's mask
vsfencing mask
  • Specialized
1 4.0

A face cover that protects your eyes and face from sparks, bright light and heat during welding

protects against physical impact using mesh, not heat or light hazards
fencer's mask
vsfencing mask
6.5

A protective face covering made of wire mesh worn by someone who fences to stop sword hits

has identical meaning but differs only in wording
birdcage mask
vsfencing mask
7.4

A strong wire mask a baseball catcher wears to protect the face

uses fine mesh rather than strong wire for face protection
bar mask
vsfencing mask
  • US
6.4

A protective face guard made of metal bars used by the catcher in baseball or softball

relies on fine woven mesh instead of rigid bars for shielding

How Protective

helmet
649 1.0
face guard
  • US
1 3.9
fencing mask
5.5

Surface Forms

fencing mask singular
fencing masks plural

Morphology

fencing + mask

The meaning 'a protective face covering worn by fencers' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'fencing' (the sport/use) with 'mask' (a face covering). This noun+noun composition follows common naming patterns for sports equipment and is cross-linguistically regular, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

The term fencing mask comes from the sport of fencing, where people wear a strong mask of fine metal mesh to protect their face from an opponent's sword, so it means 'a protective face covering'.