A groundling was a person who visited the Red Lion, The Rose, or the Globe theatres in the early 17th century. [1] They were too poor to pay to be able to sit on one of the three levels of the theatre.

The meaning of GROUNDLING is a spectator who stood in the pit of an Elizabethan theater. Did you know?

A “Groundling” is one of the 40 company members who write and perform in the theatre’s shows and teach classes at The Groundlings School. Our school has been the foremost comedy training ground …

GROUNDLING definition: a plant or animal that lives on or close to the ground. ground. See examples of groundling used in a sentence.

As Shakespeare stood on the stage, looking down at the penny-stinkers, they may have looked to him like gaping fish as they stared open-mouthed, up at him, thus the metaphor – the word ‘groundling’ – …

There are eight meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun groundling, one of which is labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

Oct 9, 2024 · Present at the Battle of Jutland, he had been recalled for the duration of this war and, being in the area, he had come to see how his little lad was faring in the sky. I was given permission …

3 meanings: 1. any animal or plant that lives close to the ground or at the bottom of a lake, river, etc 2. a. (in Elizabethan.... Click for more definitions.

Sep 21, 2025 · Discover the term 'Groundling' - its origins in Shakespearean theatre, modern usage, and cultural significance. Learn about groundlings' role in theatre history and how the term has evolved …

In the 17th century, a groundling was an audience member in the theater's least expensive section. For the price of a penny, groundlings stood just below the stage to view plays. Groundlings, unable to …