dynamometern.
/ˌdʌɪnəˈmɒmᵻtə/, U.S. /ˌdaɪnəˈmɑmədər/ 1. figurative.1854 J. R. Lowell Cambr. 30 Years Ago in Prose Wks. (1890) I. 88 An accurate dynamometer of Willard's punch or Porter's flip.1890 B. L. Gildersleeve Ess. & Stud. 245 He saluted his wife as a moral dynamometer.
a. A name of instruments of various kinds for measuring the amount of energy exerted by an animal, or expended by a motor or other engine in its work, or by the action of any mechanical force.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > mechanics > force > [noun] > instrument measuring
dynamometer1810
dynamograph1851
1810 Q. Rev. Aug. 59 Some experiments made..with a new instrument, invented by Regnier, which he calls a dynamometer, for the purpose of ascertaining the comparative strength which individuals are capable of exerting.
1823 Mechanic's Mag. 29 Nov. 209 The Dynamometer of Regnier, which enables us to ascertain easily the comparative strength of men.
1862 London Rev. & Weekly Jrnl. 23 Aug. 176 The draught-power of the engine was noted by a spiral spring dynamometer, capable of registering up to 8 tons.
1879 W. Thomson & P. G. Tait Treat. Nat. Philos. (new ed.) I: Pt. i. 488 The name ‘dynamometer’, besides, appears to be badly formed from the Greek; and for designating an instrument for measurement of force, I would suggest that the name may with advantage be changed to dynamimeter.
1895 Pritchard tr. Marey's Movement ix. 146 Dynamometers are constructed on the principle that an elastic body is distorted in proportion to the degree of force applied.
b. attributive, as dynamometer car n. a railway vehicle with equipment for continuously measuring and recording the force exerted by the locomotive pulling it and other information about the running of the train.
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1879 Railroad Gaz. 30 May 298/2 Mr. F. M. Wilder..has during the past year been occupied..in perfecting a dynamometer car.
1879 Railroad Gaz. 30 May 298/3 The train consisted of 45 loaded cars, with a caboose and the dynamometer car.
1953 W. W. Hay Railroad Engin. I. xi. 153 Many of the test data used in deriving drawbar pull, tonnage ratings, and other locomotive performance data are obtained with a dynamometer car.
2. An instrument for measuring the magnifying power of a telescope: also called dynameter n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > optical instruments > instruments for measuring > [noun] > power of telescopes
dynameter1828
dynamometer1832
1832 Nat. Philos. (Libr. Useful Knowl.) II. Optical Instruments iv. §18. 11 The magnifying power of telescopes may be ascertained..by means of a dynamometer.
1877 G. F. Chambers Handbk. Descr. Astron. (ed. 3) vii. i. 621 Shifting the Dynamometer until the two internal edges exactly touch the circumference of the image.
Derivatives
dynamoˈmetric n.
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1837 Ann. Electr., Magnetism, & Chem. 1 444 The mechanical effect..was estimated at half the force of a man. I shall apply it hereafter to an exact dynamometric apparatus.
1864 Webster's Amer. Dict. Eng. Lang. Dynamometric, -al.
1868 P. M. Duncan tr. L. Figuier Insect World Introd. 23 In order to measure the muscular strength of man, or of animals..many different dynamometric apparatuses have been invented, composed of springs, or systems of unequal levers.
dynamoˈmetrical adj. (also dynamiˈmetrical) of or pertaining to the measurement of force.
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1870 Daily News 14 Nov. Thorough Test of Double Ploughs..To carry out the dynamometrical experiments.
1879 W. Thomson & P. G. Tait Treat. Nat. Philos. (new ed.) I: Pt. i. §437 If we..apply the proper amount of force at each end of the dynamimetric rope or chain.
dynaˈmometry n. the measurement of force.
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1891 Athenæum 7 Mar. 316/1 Further Contributions to Dynamometry.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1897; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1810