plane-table

[ pleyn-tey-buh l ]

/ ˈpleɪnˌteɪ bəl /

to survey with a plane table.

Origin of plane-table

First recorded in 1870–75

plane table

a drawing board mounted on a tripod, used in the field, with an alidade, for surveying tracts of land.

First recorded in 1600–10

Work on the wireless masts went on apace, and the geologist was abroad with his plane-table every day.

The Home of the Blizzard |Douglas Mawson
Plane-table maps vary greatly in scale and the area they represent.

The Boy Mechanic, Book 2 |Various
This map was a plane-table sketch, prepared by an engineer officer shortly before the action.

History of the War in South Africa 1899-1902 v. 1 (of 4) |Sir Frederick Maurice.
Gujjar Singh, with the plane-table, was detained by bad weather higher up the valley.

Mount Everest the Reconnaissance, 1921 |Charles Kenneth Howard-Bury

Having set up the plane-table in position, I erected a flag-post and returned to camp to breakfast.

Across Iceland |William Bisiker

plane table

a surveying instrument consisting of a drawing board mounted on adjustable legs, and used in the field for plotting measurements directly

to survey (a plot of land) using a plane table