rheostat Electr.
(ˈriːəstæt)
[f. rheo- + στατός, vbl. adj. of ἱστάναι to stand.]
Orig. (see quot. 1843.) Now, a resistor whose resistance can be varied by mechanical means, esp. a variable wire-wound resistor used for controlling large currents.
| 1843 Wheatstone in Phil. Trans. 309 As the principal use of this instrument is to adjust or regulate the circuit so that any constant degree of force may be obtained I have called it a rheostat. 1896 Allbutt's Syst. Med. I. 369 The rheostat is again brought into use to lower the current. 1920 Whittaker's Electr. Engineer's Pocket-bk. (ed. 4) 561 In one form of rheostat, the grids are formed of rectangular wire in one continuous length. 1960 Practical Wireless XXXVI. 373/1 (Advt.), Variable rheostats, heavy duty slider resistor rated at 25 amps. 1972 P. Marks Collector's Choice i. 26 All the lights and rheostats. 1974 Encycl. Brit. Micropædia VIII. 548/2 The rheostat can adjust generator characteristics, dim lights, and start or control the speed of motors... A special type of rheostat is the potentiometer. |
| attrib. 1850 A. Secchi Res. Electr. Rheometry 35 Coiling the rheostat wire on the wooden cylinder. 1879 Noad & Preece Electr. 207 The rheostat cylinder. |
Hence
ˈrheostatted a., fitted with or controlled by a rheostat.
| 1978 J. Updike Coup (1979) v. 211 The symbolic riband of gold on his forehead took glitter from the rheostatted spotlight. |