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覗き眼鏡 (のぞきめがね) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

覗のぞき眼鏡めがね

の

ぞ

き

め

が

ね

Meanings

1

noun

peep show; viewing device with lens

Historical device: a box or stand with a lens for viewing enlarged pictures, often used in Edo-period entertainment. Compare のぞきからくり.

See also: 覗き機関 (のぞきからくり)

江え戸ど時じ代だい、覗のぞき眼鏡めがねは縁えん日にちの人にん気きの見み世せ物ものだった。
In the Edo period, the peep show was a popular attraction at festivals.

2

noun

water glass; hydroscope; underwater viewer

A box or tube with a glass bottom for viewing underwater, used for observing fish, seabed, etc. Compare 箱眼鏡.

See also: 箱眼鏡 (はこめがね)

漁りょう師しは覗のぞき眼鏡めがねで海かい中ちゅうの魚ぎょ群ぐんを探さがした。
The fisherman searched for schools of fish underwater using a water glass.

Written forms

覗のぞき眼鏡めがね
Standard kanji spelling.
覗のぞき眼鏡めがね
irregular okurigana
Irregular okurigana usage; less common.
のぞき眼鏡めがね
Mixed kana-kanji spelling, sometimes used for clarity.

Kanji

覗peep, peek, come in sight
眼eyeball
鏡mirror, speculum, barrel-head

Similar words

箱はこ眼鏡めがね
Specifically a box-shaped underwater viewer; 覗き眼鏡 can refer to a broader range of viewing devices.
のぞきからくり
A type of peep show with moving pictures; 覗き眼鏡 is the device itself.

Etymology

Compound of 覗き (peeping) + 眼鏡 (glasses). The exact historical derivation is uncertain; the term likely emerged in the Edo period for optical viewing devices.