A form of viewing device that allows the viewer to see things at a different height level and usually with minimal visibility.
The waters grew suddenly lighter, and my spirits rose accordingly. I shouted down to those below that I saw daylight ahead, and a great shout of thanksgiving reverberated through the ship. A moment later we emerged into sunlit water, and immediately I raised the periscope and looked about me upon the strangest landscape I had ever seen.1918 September–November, Edgar Rice Burroughs, “The Land That Time Forgot”, in The Blue Book Magazine, Chicago, Ill.: Story-press Corp., →OCLC; republished as chapter IV, in Hugo Gernsback, editor, Amazing Stories, (please specify |part=I to III), New York, N.Y.: Experimenter Publishing, 1927, →OCLC:
[…] will show it not only enlarging the periscope of knowledge, but contributing to the amelioration of the condition of unfortunate and suffering humanity […]1885, Transactions of the Michigan State Medical Society, page 55:
To rise and peer around, in the manner of a periscope.
Thousands of ungainly black-beaked heads would periscope and freeze in the direction of the approaching intruder.1951, National Geographic Magazine: Volume 99:
The second summer I had a great deal of interest but weeks passed before I worked up the nerve to approach her, the confidence finally gained when I caught a queen snake that periscoped within reach, one of the last I ever saw swimming in Cross Creek.1987, Field & Stream March 1987:
2 more examples
Areas of barren sand are likely spots to look for its [the turtle's] periscoping head. Its fondness for the bottom is equally matched by its ability to quickly disappear and tunnel into it.2008, Doug Stamm, The Springs of Florida, page 99:
Her black and white head suddenly popped out from under the covers and periscoped around.2010, Jim Moran, The Sentinel: A Wildfire Story, page 236:
Periscope
verb
Etymology From the brand name Periscope.
1
Internet To broadcast live video stream using Periscope app via phone or tablet.
Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton Periscoped her first major campaign rally with Olympian Michelle Kwan as the host of the live stream.2015, Marketing Trends Guide 2016, page 8:
When Manchester City fan Josh Chambers “Periscoped” an entire away match at Crystal Palace in February 2017, notionally for the benefit of his stay-at-home dad, the stream was watched by more than 139,000 stay-at-home fans.2017, Paul Brown, Savage Enthusiasm: A History of Football Fans, page 277:
1 more example
And photographer Patrick Witty (2015 ) Periscoped refugees landing in Lesbos, Greece, for BuzzFeed News.2018, Claudette G. Artwick, “Social Media Livestreaming”, in Scott Eldridge II, Bob Franklin, editors, The Routledge Handbook of Developments in Digital Journalism, page 298: