beam compass


noun Drafting.

a compass having adjustable legs, set perpendicular to the paper and sliding along a horizontal bar so as to permit the drawing of large circles.

Origin of beam compass

First recorded in 1775–85

Example sentences from the Web for beam compass

  • The beam-compass, Fig. 208, consists of two trammel-points running on a beam which may be made of any convenient length.

    Handwork in Wood |William Noyes

British Dictionary definitions for beam compass

beam compass

noun

an instrument for drawing large circles or arcs, consisting of a horizontal beam along which two vertical legs slide Also called: trammel