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Dictionary Language resources

alidade

Pronunciation: /ˈalɪdeɪd/

Definition of alidade

noun

a sighting device or pointer for determining directions or measuring angles, used in surveying and (formerly) astronomy.

Origin:

late Middle English: directly or (in modern use) via French and Spanish from Arabic al-‘iḍāda 'the revolving radius', probably based on aḍud 'upper arm'