HOURGLASS

hourglass

(noun) a sandglass that runs for sixty minutes

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

hourglass (plural hourglasses)

A clock made of two glass vessels connected by a narrow passage through which sand flows.

(GUI) A pointer, often shaped like an hourglass, indicating that the computer is busy.

Synonyms

• sandglass

Hyponyms

• egg timer, egg-timer

Source: Wiktionary

Hour"glass`, n.

Definition: An instrument for measuring time, especially the interval of an hour. It consists of a glass vessel having two compartments, from the uppermost of which a quantity of sand, water, or mercury occupies an hour in running through a small aperture unto the lower.

Note: A similar instrument measuring any other interval of time takes its name from the interval measured; as, a half-hour glass, a half- minute glass. A three-minute glass is sometimes called an egg-glass, from being used to time the boiling of eggs.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition