pedometer
(pɪˈdɒmɪtə(r))
[ad. F. pédomètre (Bion 1723), hybrid f. pedo- for L. pedi- foot + Gr. µέτρον measure, -meter. French had also the etymologically more correct form podomètre (1712 in Hatz.-Darm.). In sense 2, the first element might be πέδον ground.]
1. An instrument for recording the number of steps taken, and thus approximately measuring the distance travelled on foot: usually somewhat resembling a watch in size and appearance, having a dial-plate marked with numbers, round which a pointer or index-hand travels.
| [1712 Hautefeuille Machine arpentante 10 Le podomètre ou conte-pas. 1723 N. Bion Instr. de Mathém. 96 Cet instrument se nomme Pedometre ou Compte-pas.] 1723 E. Stone tr. Bion's Math. Instr. iii. ii. 88 Construction of the Pedometer or Waywiser. 1727–41 Chambers Cycl., Pedometer, or Podometer, way-wiser; a mechanical instrument, in form of a watch; consisting of various wheels..which by means of a chain or string fastned to a man's foot..advance a notch each step. 1783 J. Fischer Patent Specif. No. 1377. 6 The pedometer or pace- and step-teller. 1786 Jefferson Writ. (ed. Ford) IV. 194. 1876 Handbk. Sci. App. S. Kens. 25. 1880 Mark Twain Tramp Abr. xi. 85 Harris carried the little watch-like machine called a ‘pedometer’, whose office is to keep count of a man's steps and tell how far he has walked. |
2. (See quot.)
| 1727–41 Chambers Cycl. s.v., Pedometer is sometimes also used for a surveying wheel, an instrument chiefly used in measuring roads; popularly called the way-wiser. Ibid., Perambulator, in surveying,..called also pedometer. |
So pedoˈmetric, pedoˈmetrical adjs., of, pertaining to, or of the nature of a pedometer; serving to measure a distance travelled on foot; hence pedoˈmetrically adv.; pedometrician (-ˈɪʃən), a maker of pedometers; peˈdometrist, one who uses a pedometer.
| 1783 J. Fischer Patent Specif. No. 1377. 6 A pedometrical watch can be made also with two dyal plates. 1885 Alex. Stewart 'Twixt Ben Nevis & Glencoe ix, A method of pedometrically ascertaining the maximum and minimum of spring temperatures. 1827 Blackw. Mag. XXII. 465 No Pedometrician will ever make a fortune in a mountainous island. Ibid., One tolerable pedestrian who is also a Pedometrist. |