Thyratron
/ˈθaɪ.rə.trɒn/noun
A gas-filled electronic tube used as a switch or controlled rectifier.
Did you know?The name was coined in the 1920s from Greek roots, with the ending -tron echoing other scientific terms for instruments or devices, giving it a deliberately powerful, futuristic feel.
Etymological Timeline
1920s
English
thyratron
“A coined name for a gas-filled electronic switching tube”
Ancient Greek
Greek
θύρα (thýra)
“Door, gate, or entrance”
Ancient Greek
Greek
-τρον (-tron)
“An instrument, place, or means associated with an action”
Modern English
English
thyratron
“A type of electronic tube used for switching and control”