coudé telescope

[ koo-dey ]

noun

1. a telescope in which light from the primary mirror is reflected along the polar axis to additional mirrors, and in which the focus coudéfocus is independent of the telescope's motion, permitting the use of heavy instruments without disturbing the delicate balance of the telescope.

Word History and Origins

Origin of coudé telescope¹

1920–25; < French coudé bent, elbowed, past participle of couder to bend, verbal derivative of coude elbow ≪ Latin cubitus cubit