stroboscope
(ˈstrəʊbə-, ˈstrɒbəskəʊp)
[f. Gr. στρόβο-ς a twisting or whirling round + -scope.]
a. A scientific toy which produces the illusion of motion by a series of pictures viewed through the openings of a revolving disc. b. An instrument for observing the successive phases of a periodic motion by means of light periodically interrupted.
| a. 1836 [see stroboscopical]. 1882 L. Campbell Life J. C. Maxwell ii. 36 A scientific toy had recently come into vogue, an improvement on the thaumatrope, called variously by the names ‘phenakistoscope’, ‘stroboscope’, or ‘magic disc’. |
| b. 1896 Fr. A. Welby tr. Biedermann's Electro-Physiol. I. 409 If two interrupters are used, one of which is connected with the capillary electrometer, the other with the stroboscope. 1903 Engineering 18 Dec. 837/1 A special differential stroboscope, in which the motor was illuminated only once in every two revolutions. |