Eidograph

/ˈaɪdəɡræf/ noun

Definition

A device or instrument used to mechanically draw or reproduce an image or pattern by tracing, often using light or optical projection.

Etymology

From Greek 'eidos' (image) and 'graph' (to write or draw), literally meaning 'image writer.' The term describes various 19th and 20th century instruments for copying or projecting images.

Kelly Says

An eidograph was an early ancestor of the modern pantograph—it helped architects and engineers reproduce drawings at different scales before digital scanners made this job automatic.

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