cross wire

or crosswire

noun

, Optics.

1. cross hair ( def 1 ).

Word History and Origins

Origin of cross wire¹

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

Many in the Senate did not want to cross wires with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D.Calif., who has adamantly refused to open a formal inquiry.

From Fox News

Things could go badly, quite quickly, when feedback loops start to cross wires and systemic changes in one part of the world start to dramatically affect other parts of the world.

From US News

Otherwise, people will cross wires, and that will create a ripple effect that’s totally unnecessary.

From New York Times

This reckoning-board consists of an oblong frame, divided in its length by a partition into unequal divisions, in the larger of which are hung five, in the smaller two, beads upon metal cross wires.

From Project Gutenberg

If not, the cross wire of B was moved till it coincided with dot 0, and the number of divisions of the micrometer head noted.

From Project Gutenberg