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



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Coffee Trivia

The word “coffee” entered the English language in 1582 via the Dutch “koffie,” borrowed from the Ottoman Turkish “kahve,” borrowed in turn from the Arabic “qahwah.” The Arabic word qahwah was traditionally held to refer to a type of wine.

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