vernier

views updated May 29 2018

ver·nier / ˈvərnēər/ • n. a small movable graduated scale for obtaining fractional parts of subdivisions on a fixed main scale of a barometer, sextant, or other measuring instrument.

vernier

views updated May 18 2018

vernier movable scale for taking minute measurements. XVIII. — F., f. name of Paul Vernier (1580–1637), F. mathematician, who described it in ‘Quadrant nouveau de mathématiques’ (1631).