Search the Dictionary

here upon a plane; especially, a representation of the celestial sphere upon a plane with adjustable circles, or other appendages, for showing the position of the heavens, the time of rising and setting of stars, etc., for any given date or hour.

An adjustable staff formerly attached to the plow beam to determine the depth of the furrow. Piers Plowman.

An adjustable pattern used by tailors. Knight.

h fatal results. -- Screw wrench. (a) A wrench for turning a screw. (b) A wrench with an adjustable jaw that is moved by a screw. -- To put the screw, or screws, on, to use pressure upon, as for the purpose of extortion; to coerce. -- To put under the screw or screws, to subject to presure; to force. -- Wood screw,…

rface. See under Skew. Linen scroll (Arch.) See under Linen. -- Scroll chuck (Mach.), an adjustable chuck, applicable to a lathe spindle, for centering and holding work, in which the jaws are adjusted and tightened simultaneously by turning a disk having in its face a spiral groove which is entered by teeth on the bac…

A pipe wrench having an adjustable L-shaped jaw piece sliding in a sleeve that is pivoted to, and loosely embraces, the handle. Pressure on the handle increases the grip.

gauge (Mach.), an instrument consisting of a standard having a flat base and carrying an adjustable pointer, for gauging the evenness of a surface or its height, or for marking a line parallel with a surface. -- Surface grub (Zoöl.), the larva of the great yellow underwing moth (Triphoena pronuba). It is often destru…

device consisting essentially of a variable inductance coil and condenser with a pair of adjustable spark balls, for attuning the time periods of antennæ in wireless telegraphy (called also syntonizing coil).

The sliding block or support, in a lathe, which carries the dead spindle, or adjustable center. The headstock supports the live spindle.

An adjustable traveling bag consisting of two cases, the larger slipping over the other.

Adjustable laterally; having a lateral motion, or a swinging motion; adapted for giving lateral motion. Traversing plate (Mil.), one of two thick iron plates at the hinder part of a gun carriage, where the handspike is applied in traversing the piece. Wilhelm. -- Traversing platform (Mil.), a platform for traversing g…

know, how variable and vain! Milton. Variable exhaust (Steam Eng.), a blast pipe with an adjustable opening. -- Variable quantity (Math.), a variable. -- Variable stars (Astron.), fixed stars which vary in their brightness, usually in more or less uniform periods.

as flying, or having the wings spread; as, an eagle volant. Volant piece (Anc. Armor), an adjustable piece of armor, for guarding the throat, etc., in a joust.

One of several pivoted pieces forming the throat of an adjustable die used in drawing wire, lead pipe, etc. Knight.

ting strain, as in turning bolts, nuts, screw taps, etc.; a screw key. Many wrenches have adjustable jaws for grasping nuts, etc., of different sizes.