An optical device or shutter used in early cinema and photography to create dimming or lighting effects by blocking light sources partially or repeatedly.
From Greek 'epi' (upon) and 'skotos' (darkness) plus '-er' (agent noun suffix). The name literally describes its function: controlling darkness and light in photographic equipment.
This is a forgotten cinema word from early film experiments—cinematographers used episcotisters to create flickering effects and lighting transitions before electric lighting became sophisticated, showing how old technology names die out.
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