opera glass

English

Noun

opera glass (plural opera glasses)

1. A pair of small low-powered binoculars for use at a theatrical performance.
   • 1844, Edgar Allen Poe, "The Spectacles"

     Talbot," I said, " you have an opera glass. Let me have it." "An opera glass ! — no ! — what do you suppose I would be doing with an opera glass ?

Usage notes

• Often used in plural form to indicate a single pair of binoculars.