Spinthariscopic

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Spinthariscope \Spin*thar"i*scope\, n. [Gr. spinqari`s spark +
     -scope.]
     A small instrument containing a minute particle of a radium
     compound mounted in front of a fluorescent screen and viewed
     with magnifying lenses. The tiny flashes produced by the
     continual bombardment of the screen by the [alpha] rays are


     thus rendered visible. -- {Spin*thar`i*scop"ic}, a.
     [Webster 1913 Suppl.]