artificial horizonn.
/ˌɑːtᵻfɪʃl həˈrʌɪzn/, U.S. /ˈɑrdəˌfɪʃ(ə)l həˈraɪzn/ 1.
a. An instrument or structure that represents or is likened to the horizon.
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1595 J. Davis Seamans Secrets i. sig. A1v The Compasse may conueniently be named, an Artificiall Horizon, because by it are manifested all the limits and distinctions of the Horizon required, to the perfect vse of Nauigation.
1712 E. Wells Young Gentleman's Astron., Chronol., & Dialling ix. 99 The artificial Horizon is the outermost Circle of the artificial Globe.
1930 Observer 18 May 11/2 The stage will have unique features, including an artificial horizon or cyclorama.
1994 J. North Fontana Hist. Astron. & Cosmol. i. 3 These lintelled structures were thus, like the long barrows and other earthen structures before them, artificial horizons.
b. A reflecting surface (originally that of a fluid at rest) used in taking elevations, and now usually forming part of a sextant.
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the world > the universe > cosmology > science of observation > astronomical instruments > measuring altitude > [noun] > artificial horizon
artificial horizon1762
false horizon1812
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > equipment of vessel > navigational aids > [noun] > quadrant, sextant, etc. > part of
line of shadows1728
artificial horizon1762
horizon-glass1774
sunglass1801
false horizon1812
1762 Philos. Trans. 1761 (Royal Soc.) 52 185 An artificial horizon of water..I had found to be too easily disturbed.
1801 C. Gould Brit. Patent 2559 Artificial horizon, to be attached to and used with the quadrant or sextant for taking altitudes on land or water.
1820 W. Scoresby Acct. Arctic Regions I. 442 Where the sea is..smooth..an artificial horizon may be used with tolerable accuracy, even upon a ship's deck.
1842 Jrnl. Royal Geogr. Soc. 12 176 On leaving Cumaka I had only provided myself with a chronometer, a sextant, an artificial horizon, and prismatic compass.
1962 E. Bruton Dict. Clocks & Watches (1963) 156 The bubble sextant, which has an artificial horizon, is used for aircraft.
1998 R. K. Hubbard Boater's Bowditch (2000) xiii. 167/1 An artificial horizon is valuable for the boater who wants to practice..on land where a sea horizon is not visible.
2. Aeronautics. A gyroscopic instrument that indicates the attitude (attitude n. 2c) of an aircraft. Also called gyro horizon.
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society > travel > air or space travel > a means of conveyance through the air > aeroplane > parts of aircraft > controls and instruments > [noun] > navigational instrument > artificial or gyroscopic horizon
artificial horizon1920
gyro-horizon1939
1920 Flight 12 1258/1 In common with all artificial horizons when used in aircraft, however, the level is subject to error.
1978 A. Welch Bk. of Airsports ii. 36/2 The instruments used to cope with cloud flying are either a turn-and-slip indicator or an artificial horizon, or both.
2007 Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch (Nexis) 20 Mar. 6 d Flying at night or in bad weather, gyroscopes provide an artificial horizon for the pilot.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2008; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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