Time-ball (Noun)
Meaning
A ball that slides down a staff to show a fixed time; especially at an observatory.
Classification
Nouns denoting man-made objects.
Examples
- The time-ball at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich was a familiar sight to Londoners in the 19th century.
- The time-ball was dropped at exactly noon every day to provide a visual signal of the time to ships in the harbor.
- The observatory's time-ball was an important aid to navigation, allowing sailors to set their chronometers accurately.
- The time-ball was a simple but effective device that consisted of a large metal ball that slid down a staff.
- When the time-ball was first introduced, it was a major innovation in timekeeping and greatly increased the accuracy of navigation.