coudé telescope

American  

[koo-dey] / kuˈdeɪ /

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 coudéfocus is independent of the telescope's motion, permitting the use of heavy instruments without disturbing the delicate balance of the telescope.

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Etymology

Origin of coudé telescope

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