Sundial
/ˈsʌnˌdaɪ.əl/noun
A device that indicates the time of day by the position of the sun's shadow.
Did you know?The sundial was not just a timekeeper; in ancient Rome, it was also used to mark the hours of prayer and rituals, linking time with divine moments.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*sólos
“the sun”
Latin
Latin
solarium
“a place exposed to the sun”
Old French
Old French
sundial
“a device for measuring time using the sun's position”
Middle English
Middle English
sundial
“a timekeeping instrument using the shadow cast by the sun”
Modern English
English
sundial
“a time indicator based on the sun's shadow, used in various cultures.”