Sympiesometer

1 definition found

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

  Sympiesometer \Sym`pi*e*som"e*ter\, n. [Gr. ? compression (fr. ?
     to press together; sy`n with + ? to press, squeeze) +
     -meter.]
     A sensitive kind of barometer, in which the pressure of the
     atmosphere, acting upon a liquid, as oil, in the lower
     portion of the instrument, compresses an elastic gas in the


     upper part.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: The column of oil of a lower part BC of a glass tube
           compresses hydrogen gas in the upper part AB, and is
           thus measured on the scale pq by the position of a
           surface of the oil in the tube. The scale pq is
           adjustable, and its index must be set to the division
           on the scale rs corresponding to the temperature
           indicated by the termometer t, in order to correct for
           the effects of temperature on the gas. It is sensitive,
           and convenient for use at sea, but inferior in accuracy
           to the mercurial barometer.
           [1913 Webster]