armilla

American  

[ahr-mil-uh] / ɑrˈmɪl ə /

noun

plural

armillae, armillas

1. armill.

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Explanation

An armilla is a model of the Earth that allows it to revolve on an axis and shows features like the equator and the Tropic of Cancer. Armillas are among the very oldest instruments used by astronomers. Another name for an armilla is an armillary sphere or an astrolabe. In ancient Greece, armillas were one of the primary astronomical tools used by scientists for teaching and observation. Another kind of armilla, also present in the ancient world, was a military armband awarded to ancient Roman soldiers for bravery or gallantry. In Latin, the word literally means "bracelet," from armus, "shoulder or upper arm."

Example Sentences

Armillaria, from armilla, a bracelet—referring to the ring upon the stem.

From The Mushroom, Edible and Otherwise Its Habitat and its Time of Growth by Hard, Miron Elisha

A brass armilla tolomæi was one of the instruments supplied to Martin Frobisher in 1576, price £4, 6s. 8d.

From The Sailor's Word-Book An Alphabetical Digest of Nautical Terms, including Some More Especially Military and Scientific, but Useful to Seamen; as well as Archaisms of Early Voyagers, etc. by Belcher, Edward, Sir

In its simplest form, consisting of a ring fixed in the plane of the equator, the armilla is one of the most ancient of astronomical instruments.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 5 "Arculf" to "Armour, Philip" by Various

The first was an equinoctial, the second a solstitial armilla.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 5 "Arculf" to "Armour, Philip" by Various

By the Romans it was called armilla, brachiale, occabus; and in the middle ages bauga, armispatha.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Slice 3 "Borgia, Lucrezia" to "Bradford, John" by Various