A tool or instrument used to measure human body parts and proportions for scientific study.
From 'anthropo-' (human) + '-meter' (measuring instrument). Developed in the 19th century as anthropometry emerged as a quantitative science for studying human physical variations.
Early 'anthropometers' were used to make false claims about racial superiority—the same instruments that could measure human diversity were twisted to justify racism, showing how tools themselves are neutral but context matters enormously.
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