parallel ruler

British  

noun

1. engineering a drawing instrument in which two parallel edges are connected so that they remain parallel, although the distance between them can be varied

---

Example Sentences

The exercises were growing more complex and difficult: navigation by leg dividers and a parallel ruler; docking in 30 mph wind; sailing around an entire island; trying to rescue Mick’s hat, which blew overboard.

From Washington Post • Sep. 6, 2017

Foster unrolled the large chart of the North Atlantic Ocean upon the dinner table, and with parallel ruler, pencil, and compasses, proceeded to perform his duty.

From Outward Bound Or, Young America Afloat by Optic, Oliver

In his leisure hours, Watt invented an ingenious machine for drawing in perspective, using the double parallel ruler, then very little known and not at all used as far as Watt knew.

From James Watt by Carnegie, Andrew

I accordingly went below, secured the chart, together with a pencil, a pair of dividers, and a parallel ruler, and took the whole on deck.

From The Castaways by Dugdale, Thomas Cantrell

By trying with a parallel ruler, I found that the thin grey layers and the black hair-like lines were absolutely straight and parallel to each other.

From Volcanic Islands by Darwin, Charles