Meaning of archipendulum | Babel Free

Definitions

An ancient device used to measure angles, consisting of an A-shaped device with a plumbline attached to the top vertex and a mark on the midpoint of the crossbar.

Examples

“ETHICKS is represented in painting by a lady of a sober, grave aspect, holding the instrument archipendulum in one hand, with the other a lion bridled.”

“Alberti's equilibra, which he uses first for the levelling of water and later for the weighing of small objects, is really a makeshift archipendulum.”

“The altitude/angle of Polaris could be measured by either the cross-staff aboard a vessel at sea, or an archipendulum on shore at a stone circle megalith.”

CEFR level