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An instrument, having stretched metallic wires which are beaten with two light hammers held in the hands of the performer.

An original instrument repeated; a document which is the same as another in all essential particulars, and differing from a mere copy in having all the validity of an original. Burrill.

An instrument for measuring the degree of hardness; especially, an instrument for testing the relative hardness of steel rails and the like.

An instrument for measuring the intensity of the photogenic (light-producing) rays, and computing the power of object glasses.

An instrument for determining the magnifying power of telescopes, consisting usually of a doubleimage micrometer applied to the eye end of a telescope for measuring accurately the diameter of the image of the object glass there formed; which measurement, compared with the actual diameter of the glass, gives the magnify…

elating to a dynamometer, or to the measurement of force doing work; as, dynamometrical instruments.

a and allied genera. -- Ear stones (Anat.), otoliths. See Otolith. -- Ear trumpet, an instrument to aid in hearing. It consists of a tube broad at the outer end, and narrowing to a slender extremity which enters the ear, thus collecting and intensifying sounds so as to assist the hearing of a partially deaf person.…

An instrument for removing wax from the ear.

An instrument for observing the boiling point of liquids, especially for determining the alcoholic strength of a mixture by the temperature at which it boils.

An instrument for intensifying sounds produced by percussion of the thorax. Knight.

An instrument intended to replace the knife in many operations, the parts operated on being severed by the crushing effect produced by the gradual tightening of a steel chain, so that hemorrhage rarely follows.

The thin cutting side of the blade of an instrument; as, the edge of an ax, knife, sword, or scythe. Hence, figuratively, that which cuts as an edge does, or wounds deeply, etc. He which hath the sharp sword with two edges. Rev. ii. 12. Slander, Whose edge is sharper than the sword. Shak.

To bring to pass; to effect; to achieve; to accomplish; to fulfill. A fit instrument to effectuate his desire. Sir P. Sidney. In order to effectuate the thorough reform. G. T. Curtis.

An instrument for copying drawings on the same or a different scale; a form of the pantograph.

An instrument for measuring the degree of rarefaction of air contained in the receiver of an air pump. [Spelt also elaterometer.]

An instrument used to change the direction of electric currents; a commutator. [R.]

An instrument for obtaining an accurate record of the time at which any observed phenomenon occurs, or of its duration. It has an electro-magnetic register connected with a clock. See Chronograph.

An instrument for measuring the strength of electro-dynamic currents.

An instrument for measuring the quantity or intensity of electricity; also, sometimes, and less properly, applied to an instrument which indicates the presence of electricity (usually called an electroscope). Balance electrometer. See under Balance.

An instrument for producing sound by means of electric currents.