water clock

noun

1. a device, as a clepsydra, for measuring time by the flow of water.

water clock

noun

1. any of various devices for measuring time that use the escape of water as the motive force

Word History and Origins

Origin of water clock¹

First recorded in 1595–1605

Example Sentences

The ancient Egyptians invented the first water clocks and sundials more than 3,500 years ago.

From Scientific American

Rocky comes to know his land through the “water clock” he keeps, knowing what time of the year it is by water’s presence or absence.

From Los Angeles Times

That tells you that it was a water clock because they’re going there to fill up buckets to put the fire out.

From Scientific American

They did not have mechanical clocks, but they had sundials and water clocks.

From Literature

On the left side the Dutch physicist Christian Huyghens is depicted demonstrating the first pendulum clock, which he invented in 1656, and on the right side there is a Roman senator holding a water clock.

From BBC