Nicol prism
[ nik-uhl ]
/ ˈnɪk əl /
noun Optics.
one of a pair of prisms used to produce and analyze plane-polarized light in a polarizing microscope.
QUIZZES
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We’ve gathered some interesting words donated to English from Portuguese … as well as some that just don’t translate at all. Do you know what they mean?
Question 1 of 11
Which of the following animal names traces its immediate origin to Portuguese?
Also called Nicol .
Compare polarizer (def. 1).
Origin of Nicol prism
First recorded in 1870–75; named after William Nicol (1768–1851), British physicist, its inventor
Words nearby Nicol prism
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
British Dictionary definitions for Nicol prism
Nicol prism
/ (ˈnɪkəl) /
noun
a device composed of two prisms of Iceland spar or calcite cut at specified angles and cemented together with Canada balsam. It is used for producing plane-polarized light
Word Origin for Nicol prism
C19: named after William Nicol (?1768–1851), Scottish physicist, its inventor
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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