opera glass

plural opera glasses

1. A pair of small low-powered binoculars for use at a theatrical performance.

   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 ?

   1844, Edgar Allan Poe, The Spectacles

   1 more example

   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.

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