opera glass

opera glass (plural opera glasses)

1. A pair of small low-powered binoculars for use at a theatrical performance.
   • 1844, Edgar Allan 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 ?

   • 1914, John Robert Kippax, The Call of the Stars, page 93:

     To the north and east of Shaula and Lesuth, the twin stars in the uplifted sting, are two beautiful star clusters, about four degrees apart, known as 6 M. and 7 M. which can be very well seen with an opera glass.

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