spying-glassn.
1. = spyglass n. 1. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > optical instruments > instrument for distant vision > [noun]
glass1616
prospective glass1616
prospect-glass1617
prospectivea1635
prospect1639
spying-glass1682
spyglass1707
1682 tr. W. Glanius Relation Voy. Bengala 28 Thus did they appear to us through our Spying-Glass, and every one..believed they saw very distinctly with it.
1739 Hist. Wks. Learned I. 85 From whence Servius might conclude that he knew the Use of Spying-Glasses.
1770 G. Baretti Journey London to Genoa I. x. 59 I saw through my spying-glass a ship that seemed to make towards us.
1803 Naval Chron. 9 477 By the help of my spying-glass I had made a drawing.
1885 R. Buchanan Annan Water ix I was up on the tower wi' my spying-glass.
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the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > optical instruments > magnification or magnifying instruments > [noun] > magnifying glass
magnifying glass1646
magnifier1665
hand glass1676
augmenter1703
spying-glass1767
eyeglass1768
power1854
spyglass1883
1767 Bp. W. Warburton Lett. (1809) 405 I was accosted by a little, round, well-fed gentleman, with..a spying-glass dangling in a black ribbon at his button.
1780 Ann. Reg. ii. 4 As they are masked, they do not scruple to reconnoitre the company with their spying-glasses.
1795 J. Wolcot Convention Bill in Wks. (1812) III. 380 And will it not be deem'd a daring thing To ogle through a spying-glass the King.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1915; most recently modified version published online June 2018).
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n.1682