gyroscope, n. meanings, etymology and more

First published 1900; not yet revised

Etymology
Meaning & use
Pronunciation
Frequency
Compounds & derived words

Quotations

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Factsheet

What does the noun gyroscope mean?

There is one meaning in OED's entry for the noun gyroscope. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definition, usage, and quotation evidence.

Entry status

OED is undergoing a continuous programme of revision to modernize and improve definitions. This entry has not yet been fully revised.

See meaning & use

How common is the noun gyroscope?

About 0.4occurrences per million words in modern written English

1850	0.069
1860	0.07
1870	0.072
1880	0.091
1890	0.17
1900	0.22
1910	0.28
1920	0.38
1930	0.46
1940	0.47
1950	0.47
1960	0.45
1970	0.43
1980	0.38
1990	0.33
2000	0.34
2010	0.35

See frequency

How is the noun gyroscope pronounced?

British English

/ˈdʒʌɪərəskəʊp/

See pronunciation

Where does the noun gyroscope come from?

Earliest known use

1850s

The earliest known use of the noun gyroscope is in the 1850s.

OED's earliest evidence for gyroscope is from 1856, in American Journal of Science.

gyroscope is a borrowing from French.

Etymons: French gyroscope.

See etymology

Nearby entries

gyromagnetic, adj.1922–
gyromancy, n.1557–
gyron, n.1572–
gyronnetty, adj.1900–
gyronny, adj. & n.?a1400–
gyronomonic, adj.1693
gyrophoric, adj.1886–
gyro-pilot, n.1923–
gyroplane, n.1907–
gyropter, n.1908–
gyroscope, n.1856–
gyroscope-compass, n.1909–
gyroscope governor, n.1875–
gyroscope top, n.1880–
gyroscopic, adj.1871–
gyroscopically, adv.1910–
gyrose, adj.1836–
gyro-sight, n.1942–
gyroso-, comb. form
gyro-stabilizer, n.1921–
gyrostat, n.1879–

Browse more nearby entries

Etymology

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Entry history for gyroscope, n.

gyroscope, n. was first published in 1900; not yet revised.

gyroscope, n. was last modified in July 2023.

Revision of the OED is a long-term project. Entries in oed.com which have not been revised may include:

corrections and revisions to definitions, pronunciation, etymology, headwords, variant spellings, quotations, and dates;
new senses, phrases, and quotations which have been added in subsequent print and online updates.

Revisions and additions of this kind were last incorporated into gyroscope, n. in July 2023.

Earlier versions of this entry were published in:

OED First Edition (1900)

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OED Second Edition (1989)

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View gyroscope in OED Second Edition

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Chicago

Oxford English Dictionary, s.v. “,” , .

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“” Oxford English Dictionary, Oxford UP, , .

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Citation details

Factsheet for gyroscope, n.

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Nearby entries

gyromagnetic, adj.1922–
gyromancy, n.1557–
gyron, n.1572–
gyronnetty, adj.1900–
gyronny, adj. & n.?a1400–
gyronomonic, adj.1693
gyrophoric, adj.1886–
gyro-pilot, n.1923–
gyroplane, n.1907–
gyropter, n.1908–
gyroscope, n.1856–
gyroscope-compass, n.1909–
gyroscope governor, n.1875–
gyroscope top, n.1880–
gyroscopic, adj.1871–
gyroscopically, adv.1910–
gyrose, adj.1836–
gyro-sight, n.1942–
gyroso-, comb. form
gyro-stabilizer, n.1921–
gyrostat, n.1879–

Browse more nearby entries

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