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PEDOMETER

Volume 14 · 123 words · 1797 Edition

or Podometer, formed from ποδός, "foot," and μέτρον, "measure," way-wiser; a mechanical instrument, in form of a watch, consisting of various wheels with teeth, catching in one another, all disposed in the same plane; which, by means of a chain or string fastened to a man's foot, or to the wheel of a chariot, advance a notch each step, or each revolution of the wheel; so that the number being marked on the edge of each wheel, one may number the places, or measure exactly the distance from one place to another. There are some of them which mark the time on a dial-plate, and are in every respect much like a watch, and are accordingly worn in the pocket like a watch.