Spyglass
/ˈspaɪˌɡlæs/noun
A telescope or other optical instrument for viewing distant objects.
Did you know?The word is a straightforward compound of *spy* + *glass*, and in the 17th century it named an early telescope, when seeing far away still felt like a kind of magic.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*spei-
“to sharpen, point, or observe keenly”
Old English
English
spīwan
“to look out, watch, or observe”
Middle English
English
spien
“to watch secretly; keep under observation”
17th Century
English
spy glass
“a telescope or viewing tube for seeing distant objects”
Modern English
English
spyglass
“a telescope or optical instrument for viewing faraway objects”