Vernier

2 definitions found

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

  Vernier \Ver"ni*er\, n. [So named after the inventor, Pierre
     Vernier.]
     A short scale made to slide along the divisions of a
     graduated instrument, as the limb of a sextant, or the scale
     of a barometer, for indicating parts of divisions. It is so
     graduated that a certain convenient number of its divisions


     are just equal to a certain number, either one less or one
     more, of the divisions of the instrument, so that parts of a
     division are determined by observing what line on the vernier
     coincides with a line on the instrument.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     {Vernier calipers}, {Vernier gauge}, a gauge with a graduated
        bar and a sliding jaw bearing a vernier, used for accurate
        measurements.
  
     {Vernier compass}, a surveyor's compass with a vernier for
        the accurate adjustment of the zero point in accordance
        with magnetic variation.
  
     {Vernier transit}, a surveyor's transit instrument with a
        vernier compass.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  vernier
       n 1: a small movable scale that slides along a main scale; the
            small scale is calibrated to indicate fractional
            divisions of the main scale [syn: {vernier scale}]
       2: French mathematician who described the vernier scale
          (1580-1637) [syn: {Paul Vernier}]