phantom circuit

American  

noun

Electricity.

1. a circuit derived from two suitably arranged pairs of wires, each pair being a circuit side circuit and also acting as one half of an additional derived circuit, the entire system providing the capabilities of three circuits while requiring wires for only two.

---

Etymology

Origin of phantom circuit

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

phantom circuit

As I was saying about this phantom circuit, it is used a good deal now.

From The Ear in the Wall by Reeve, Arthur B. (Arthur Benjamin)

The currents of the phantom circuit, unlike those of the physical circuits, are in the same direction in both wires of a pair at any instant.

From Cyclopedia of Telephony and Telegraphy, Vol. 2 A General Reference Work on Telephony, etc. etc. by McMeen, Samuel

A phantom circuit good enough for call circuit purposes would be good enough for actual commercial messages, therefore, it is customary to furnish such originating and receiving operators with Morse telegraph sets.

From Cyclopedia of Telephony and Telegraphy, Vol. 2 A General Reference Work on Telephony, etc. etc. by McMeen, Samuel

A phantom circuit is formed most simply when both physical lines end in the same two offices.

From Cyclopedia of Telephony and Telegraphy, Vol. 2 A General Reference Work on Telephony, etc. etc. by McMeen, Samuel

"The phantom circuit?" repeated Brixton, chafing at the delay.

From The Dream Doctor by Reeve, Arthur B. (Arthur Benjamin)