THEODOLITE
theodolite, transit
(noun) a surveying instrument for measuring horizontal and vertical angles, consisting of a small telescope mounted on a tripod
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
theodolite (plural theodolites)
A surveying instrument, consisting of a small mounted telescope, used to measure horizontal and vertical angles.
Source: Wiktionary
The*od"o*lite, n. Etym: [Probably a corruption of the alidade. See
Alidade.]
Definition: An instrument used, especially in trigonometrical surveying,
for the accurate measurement of horizontal angles, and also usually
of vertical angles. It is variously constructed.
Note: The theodolite consists principally of a telescope, with cross
wires in the focus of its object glass, clamped in Y's attached to a
frame that is mounted so as to turn both on vertical and horizontal
axes, the former carrying a vernier plate on a horizontal graduated
plate or circle for azimuthal angles, and the latter a vertical
graduated arc or semicircle for altitudes. The whole is furnished
with levels and adjusting screws and mounted on a tripod.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition