Meaning of scotograph | Babel Free

Definitions

1. An instrument for writing in the dark, or by the blind.
   obsolete, rare
2. An impression made on a photographic plate by a radioactive substance without the intervention of any opaque object other than the screen of the plate.
   obsolete, rare
3. An image of a ghost or other apparition appearing on unexposed film.

Examples

“Scotograph or writing-machine for use⟳ of the blind”

“In some recent experiments with it at the Blind Asylum at Amsterdam, children of 6 learned very rapidly to write⟳ with the assistance of the scotograph, which is the invention of Dr. Nord, but it is especially designed for the use⟳ of scholars, etc., who have⟳ become⟳ blind late in life and still wish⟳ to continue⟳ their literary activity.”

“"Scotograph" is likely to stick⟳ as the popular term for portraits taken by the Röntgen process⟳. It means "shade picture," and its analogy with photograph, which is a "light⟳ picture," is sufficiently manifest to help⟳ on its vogue.”

“You will be able to see⟳ radiographs, or scotographs, — referring to darkness and shadow ; you will see⟳ that shadowgraphs indicate⟳ to you any deformity of the roots of the teeth, or any teeth that have⟳ not come⟳ into position in the arch, or any osseous deformity which may take⟳ place⟳ in the jaw […]”

“The spirit-faces are sometimes obtained on ordinary paper without the aid of a camera and are called Scotographs.”

“What she did produce⟳ at times on her own⟳ were so-called scotographs, similar to Rorschach effects used in psychiatry; they were the result⟳ of briefly exposing sensitive photographic paper to light⟳ and then interpreting the resulting shapes.”

“These images were called “scotographs” and sometimes contained messages allegedly written by the hands of the spirits themselves.”

CEFR level