electroscope
noun
- early scientific instrument used to detect the presence of electric charge on a body
Wiktionary
noun
Etymology: Etymology tree French électro-bor. Ancient Greek ἤλεκτρον (ḗlektron)bor. Latin ēlectrum Latin electro-bor. English electro- Proto-Indo-European *speḱ- Proto-Indo-European *-yeti Proto-Indo-European *spéḱyeti Proto-Hellenic *sképťomai Ancient Greek σκέπτομαι (sképtomai) Proto-Indo-European *-ós Proto-Hellenic *-ós ▲ Ancient Greek -ος (-os)influ. Ancient Greek -ός (-ós) Ancient Greek σκοπός (skopós) Proto-Indo-European *-eti Proto-Indo-European *-eyéti Proto-Indo-European *-esyéti Proto-Indo-European *-éh₁ti Proto-Indo-European *-yeti Proto-Indo-European *-éh₁yeti Proto-Indo-European *-yeti Proto-Indo-European *-éyeti Ancient Greek -έω (-éō) Ancient Greek σκοπέω (skopéō)der. English -scope English electroscope From electro- + -scope.
- a simple device that detects the presence of an electric charge by the mutual repulsion of metal foils or pith balls