periscope

noun

peri·​scope ˈper-ə-ˌskōp 

: a tubular optical instrument containing lenses and mirrors by which an observer obtains an otherwise obstructed field of view

Illustration of periscope

Examples of periscope in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Videos and pictures released by Elephant Nature Park near the northern city of Chiang Mai show elephants wading through belly-deep floodwaters, the tips of their noses poking like periscopes out of the murky deluge. —Nat Sumon, NBC News, 4 Oct. 2024

This was mainly intended to confuse the view from a periscope. —David Hambling, Forbes, 16 Sep. 2024

There’s a triple camera setup located on the rear that consists of a 50-megapixel main camera, a 12-megapixel ultrawide, and a 12-megapixel periscope camera. —Jess Weatherbed, The Verge, 10 Sep. 2024

Apple debuted a folding periscope lens on the iPhone 15 Pro Max last year and will be bringing this to the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max this year. —Ewan Spence, Forbes, 8 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1879, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

periscope

noun

peri·​scope ˈper-ə-ˌskōp 

: an instrument containing lenses and mirrors by which an observer (as on a submerged submarine) can get a view that would otherwise be blocked

periscopic

ˌper-ə-ˈskäp-ik

adjective