Dark-tinted eyewear designed to protect the eyes from bright sunlight and ultraviolet rays.
Compound word from 'sun' + 'glasses', first appearing in English around 1930s. The concept dates to ancient times when Inuit used walrus ivory with slits, but modern tinted glass versions emerged in the 18th century.
Sunglasses were initially a medical device - early versions were prescribed by doctors for eye conditions, and it wasn't until Hollywood stars adopted them in the 1940s that they became a fashion statement and symbol of cool mystery.
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