spyglass

American  

[spahy-glas, -glahs] / ˈspaɪˌglæs, -ˌglɑs /

noun

1. a small telescope.

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spyglass British  

/ ˈspaɪˌɡlɑːs /

noun

1. a small telescope

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Etymology

Origin of spyglass

First recorded in 1700–10; spy + glass

Explanation

A lightweight telescope you can hold in your hand is a spyglass. You might picture a pirate or an explorer standing on the bow of a ship peering through a brass spyglass and then shouting, "Land ho!" Spyglasses were originally used by 17th-century ship captains and other seafaring folks. They were small and portable, often collapsible, and almost always made of brass. Though they were much less powerful than today's telescopes, they did magnify distant images to make far-away objects visible. Spyglasses are sometimes used today, though modern navigation makes them less important, and most people choose high powered binoculars instead.

Example Sentences

During the Aces Spyglass exercise I saw real progress as the British forces drilled with drones and electronic warfare.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026

Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s “Scream 7” came in second at the box office with $17.3 million in its second weekend in theaters.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 8, 2026

Northern Ireland star McIlroy was motoring with a hole-out eagle from a greenside bunker and three birdies in his first nine holes at Spyglass Hill.

From Barron's • Feb. 13, 2026

Starting on the back nine at Spyglass Hill, McIlroy struck his ace on the par-three 15th.

From BBC • Jan. 30, 2025

The sun was up, but was still hid from me behind the great bulk of the Spyglass, which on this side descended almost to the sea in formidable cliffs.

From Journeys Through Bookland, Vol. 7 by Sylvester, Charles Herbert