odometer
(əʊˈdɒmɪtə(r))
Also 9 hodometer.
[ad. F. odomètre (1724 in Hatz.-Darm.), f. Gr. ὁδός way + µέτρον measure; the spelling with h, following the Greek etymology, is rare.]
An instrument for measuring the distance traversed by a wheeled vehicle, consisting of a clockwork arrangement attached to the wheel or bearing, which records the number of revolutions of the wheel; now esp. one in a motor vehicle; also, an instrument for measuring distances in surveying, consisting of a large light wheel, having such a recording apparatus in the centre, and trundled along by a handle. Also applied to an instrument for measuring distances otherwise traversed, e.g. a pedometer.
| 1791 Jefferson in Harper's Mag. (1885) Mar. 536/1 Pd. Leslie for an odometer 10 D[ollars]. 1824 Mechanic's Mag. No. 34. 92 An odometer is a machine by which the steps of a person who walks..may be counted. 1848 Sir J. Herschel Ess. (1857) 318 To each of these cars..a hodometer, marking the distances travelled.. was attached. 1885 J. Bigelow in Harper's Mag. Mar. 536/1 The number of revolutions of the wheels of his phaeton..were registered by the odometer. 1885 Tradesman's Price List, Patent Odometer accurately registers the distance travelled by Bicycle or Tricycle. 1913 Collier's 11 Jan. ii. 57/1 The Corbin-Brown Speedometer records speed accurately... Its hand is steady; its odometer absolutely dependable. 1962 Which? Car Suppl. Jan. 28/2 We measured the accuracy of speedometer, mileage recorder (odometer) and fuel level gauge. 1968 Chicago Tribune 9 July 1. 12/1 He went out the next week-end in his sportscar and, using the auto's odometer, plotted running courses from his home. 1969 B. Weil Dossier IX v. 34 He checked the odometer which he had zeroed at the Porte de Versailles. Three more kilometres, then a right turn. 1972 Drive Spring 84 Cruising speed was restricted to 55 mph in deference to the 90,000 miles already clocked up on the broken odometer. |