An obsolete scientific instrument used to measure the properties of oils, including specific gravity or purity.
From Greek 'elaion' (oil) and 'metron' (measure), literally 'oil-measurer.' Developed in 19th-century chemistry when standardizing oils became important for industry.
Before modern chemical analysis, scientists had to invent special tools like eleometers to figure out if the oil they bought was pure or if someone watered it down—it was the original quality-control device!
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