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What is "perspective glass"

The Collaborative International Dictionary
Perspective glass

Perspective \Per*spec"tive\, n. [F. perspective, fr. perspectif: cf. It. perspettiva. See Perspective, a.]

  1. A glass through which objects are viewed. [Obs.] ``Not a perspective, but a mirror.''
    --Sir T. Browne.

  2. That which is seen through an opening; a view; a vista. ``The perspective of life.''
    --Goldsmith.

  3. The effect of distance upon the appearance of objects, by means of which the eye recognized them as being at a more or less measurable distance. Hence, a["e]rial perspective, the assumed greater vagueness or uncertainty of outline in distant objects.

    A["e]rial perspective is the expression of space by any means whatsoever, sharpness of edge, vividness of color, etc.
    --Ruskin.

  4. The art and the science of so delineating objects that they shall seem to grow smaller as they recede from the eye; -- called also linear perspective.

  5. A drawing in linear perspective.

    Isometrical perspective, an inaccurate term for a mechanical way of representing objects in the direction of the diagonal of a cube.

    Perspective glass, a telescope which shows objects in the right position.

Wiktionary
perspective glass

n. A kind of early telescope.

Usage examples of "perspective glass".

In the next place I went in to fetch my perspective glass to see what I could make of them.

I walked towards the north-east coast, over against Blefuscu, where, lying down behind a hillock, I took out my small perspective glass, and viewed the enemy's fleet at anchor, consisting of about fifty men of war, and a great number of transports: I then came back to my house, and gave orders (for which I had a warrant) for a great quantity of the strongest cable and bars of iron.

I looked, but I saw nobody, no, not with a perspective glass, which was, I suppose, because I could not hit the place: for the fellow was right, as I found upon inquiry the next day.

I had found a perspective glass or two in one of the seamen's chests which I saved out of our ship.

Here I observed, by the help of my perspective glass, that they were no less than thirty in number.

At the pinch we were in, my mind became suddenly clear as a perspective glass, and I saw there was no choice of methods.