a type of astronomical reflecting telescope in which light is reflected from a large concave mirror, onto a plane mirror, and through a hole in the side of the body of the telescope to form an image
Newtonian telescope in American English
noun
a reflecting telescope in which a mirror or reflecting prism is mounted on the axis near the eyepiece so that the image may be viewed from outside the telescope tube at right angles to the axis
Word origin
[1755–65]This word is first recorded in the period 1755–65. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: avalanche, caucus, generalization, lame duck, stalemate