Zoetrope
/ˈzoʊ.iˌtroʊp/noun
A device that creates the illusion of motion by displaying a sequence of images inside a rotating cylinder viewed through slots.
Did you know?The zoetrope’s illusion comes from persistence of vision, transforming still images into apparent movement before modern film existed.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*gʷeyh₁-
“To live; to have life”
Ancient Greek
Greek
zōḗ (ζωή)
“Life”
Ancient Greek
Greek
trópos (τρόπος)
“Turn, direction, or way”
1830s
English
Daedaleum
“An early rotating image device invented by William George Horner, using sequential drawings to create apparent motion”
1867
English
zoetrope
“A coined name for the rotating animation device, formed from Greek zōḗ, “life,” and trópos, “turn””
Modern English
English
zoetrope
“A pre-film animation device that makes still pictures appear to move”