DictionaryForumContacts

   English
Google | Forvo | +
groundlings n
lit. Also known as "understanders", groundlings are those who paid only a penny to watch Shakespeare's plays. They were the majority of the audience and stood on the ground floor of the theatre, in the yard. Groundlings stood through the entire play, which could be up to four hours long. The upper class, however, paid two pennies to sit and enter the elevated area with seats, whilst nobles often paid three pennies to sit in the Lords" rooms.