beam compass


nounDrafting.
  1. a compass having adjustable legs, set perpendicular to the paper and sliding along a horizontal bar so as to permit the drawing of large circles.

Origin of beam compass

1
First recorded in 1775–85

Words Nearby beam compass

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use beam compass in a sentence

  • The beam-compass, Fig. 208, consists of two trammel-points running on a beam which may be made of any convenient length.

    Handwork in Wood | William Noyes

British Dictionary definitions for beam compass

beam compass

noun
  1. an instrument for drawing large circles or arcs, consisting of a horizontal beam along which two vertical legs slide: Also called: trammel

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