Copsychus saularius
(gcide) | Dial \Di"al\, n. [LL. dialis daily, fr. L. dies day. See
Deity.]
1. An instrument, formerly much used for showing the time of
day from the shadow of a style or gnomon on a graduated
arc or surface; esp., a sundial; but there are lunar and
astral dials. The style or gnomon is usually parallel to
the earth's axis, but the dial plate may be either
horizontal or vertical.
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2. The graduated face of a timepiece, on which the time of
day is shown by pointers or hands.
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3. A miner's compass.
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Dial bird (Zool.), an Indian bird (Copsychus saularius),
allied to the European robin. The name is also given to
other related species.
Dial lock, a lock provided with one or more plates having
numbers or letters upon them. These plates must be
adjusted in a certain determined way before the lock can
be operated.
Dial plate, the plane or disk of a dial or timepiece on
which lines and figures for indicating the time are
placed.
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