Spyglass: meaning, definitions and examples
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spyglass
[ ˈspaɪˌɡlæs ]
on a ship
A small telescope used for viewing distant objects, especially on a ship. It typically has a magnifying lens at one end and an eyepiece at the other.
Synonyms
binoculars, monocular, telescope
Examples of usage
- The captain used his spyglass to scan the horizon for any signs of land.
- She peered through the spyglass and spotted a school of dolphins playing in the distance.
historical
An early form of telescope consisting of a single convex lens used for viewing distant objects.
Synonyms
monocular, optical tube, telescope
Examples of usage
- The pirate captain looked through his spyglass to see if any enemy ships were approaching.
- The spyglass allowed sailors to spot land or other ships from a distance.
Translations
Translations of the word "spyglass" in other languages:
🇵🇹 lente de aumento
🇮🇳 दूरबीन
🇩🇪 Lupe
🇮🇩 kaca pembesar
🇺🇦 лупа
🇵🇱 lupa
🇯🇵 拡大鏡 (かくだいきょう)
🇫🇷 loupe
🇪🇸 lupa
🇹🇷 büyüteç
🇰🇷 돋보기
🇸🇦 عدسة مكبرة
🇨🇿 lupa
🇸🇰 lupa
🇨🇳 放大镜 (fàngdàjìng)
🇸🇮 povečevalno steklo
🇮🇸 stækkunargler
🇰🇿 үлкейткіш әйнек
🇬🇪 გამადიდებელი მინა
🇦🇿 böyüdücü şüşə
🇲🇽 lupa
Word origin
The word 'spyglass' originated in the 17th century and is a combination of 'spy' (to watch secretly) and 'glass' (referring to a lens). It was commonly used by sailors and pirates for spotting distant objects at sea. Over time, the design of the spyglass evolved into the modern telescope. The spyglass played a crucial role in navigation and exploration during the Age of Sail.