Vocab Bloom Hub

time-ball

/ˈtaɪm.bɔːl/

1 entry

noun

/ˈtaɪm.bɔːl/C1formal
  • ruСуществительное, обозначающее большой шар, который скользит вниз по вертикальному шесту в заданное время; исторически использовался в обсерваториях для передачи точного времени кораблям и публике.

A noun referring to a large ball that slides down a vertical staff at a predetermined time, historically used at observatories to signal the exact time to ships and the public.

  1. Time signal deviceC1formal

    A large ball that slides down a vertical pole at a predetermined time, historically used to signal the exact time, especially at observatories or ports.

    ruШар времени

    • The time-ball at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich drops at 1 PM daily.
    • Sailors used to rely on the time-ball to set their marine chronometers.
    • The time-ball mechanism was an early method of public timekeeping.