pantograph
/ˈpæntəɡræf/
noun
Origin
Ancient Greek
panto- + graphos — all + writer
Overview
Meaning Now
- A mechanical linkage connected in a parallelogram-shaped fashion, used to copy a drawing or plan at a different scale.
- An apparatus mounted on the roof of an electric train or tram to collect current from an overhead line.
Literal older meaning
all-writer
Language path
Ancient Greek → New Latin → English
Earliest form
pantographus
Earliest period
17th century
Journey
The pantograph was originally invented by the Jesuit scientist Christoph Scheiner to facilitate the reproduction of maps and drawings. By the 19th century, the term was applied to the articulated arm mechanism used on electric locomotives to maintain contact with overhead wires, keeping the 'parallelogram' geometry consistent with the original device.
Evolution
- Ancient Greek
πάντοθεν (pantothen) + γράφειν (graphein)
“from everywhere / all + to write”
- New Latin (1603)
pantographus
“instrument for copying drawings”
Coined by German mathematician Christoph Scheiner.
- English (17th century)
pantograph
“mechanical instrument for tracing diagrams”
Adopted via direct borrowing from New Latin.
Connections
Word parts
panto-
prefix
all
-graph
root
write or drawing
Related across languages
French
pantographe
pantograph
German
pantograph
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Related to pantograph
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.