gods
Preserved but no longer current.
The people in the upper gallery of a theatre; "up amongst the GODS," a seat amongst the persons in the gallery—so named from the high position of that part, and the blue sky generally painted on the ceiling of the theatre; termed by the French, "paradis."
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “gods” mean?
The people in the upper gallery of a theatre; "up amongst the GODS," a seat amongst the persons in the gallery—so named from the high position of that part, and the blue sky generally painted on the ceiling of the theatre; termed by the French, "paradis."
Is “gods” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.