vizzard

Noun

vizard (plural vizards)

1. (archaic) A mask (cover for the face, used for disguise, protection, etc.)
   • […] one Roscius Gallus the most excellent player among the Romaines brought up these vizards, which we see at this day used, partly to supply the want of players, when there were moe parts than there were persons, or that it was not thought meet to trouble and pester princes chambers with too many...1589, George Puttenham, The Arte of English Poesie, Book I, Chapter 14
2. (archaic) A visor (part of a helmet covering the face).
   • I walked up gravely to the window in my dusty black coat, and looking through the glass saw all the world in yellow, blue, and green, running at the ring of pleasure.—The old with broken lances, and in helmets which had lost their vizards;—the young in armour bright which shone like gold, beplumed...1768, Mr. Yorick [pseudonym; Laurence Sterne], A Sentimental Journey through France and Italy, volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: […] T. Becket and P. A. De Hondt, […], →OCLC
3. (archaic, figuratively) Outward appearance; pretense.
   • Oh, that deceit should steal such gentle shapes,
     And with a virtuous vizard hide foul guile!c. 1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Richard the Third: […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and...

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