cat whisker

or cat's whisker

noun

1. Radio. a stiff wire forming one contact in a crystal detector and used for probing the crystal.
2. Electronics. any wire for making contact with a semiconductor.

Word History and Origins

Origin of cat whisker¹

First recorded in 1910–15

Example Sentences

The free end of the cat-whisker wire is then adjusted so that it will rest lightly on the exposed part of the galena.

From Project Gutenberg