mesolabe

English

Etymology

Latin mesolabium, from Ancient Greek μεσόλαβος (mesólabos).

Noun

mesolabe (plural mesolabes)

1. (historical) An ancient instrument for finding two mean proportionals between two given lines, required in solving the problem of the duplication of the cube.
   • 1819, Thomas Busby, A General History of Music:

     In the second part, by means of the monochord, and an instrument called the Mesolabe, he measures and ascertains the intervals

References

• “mesolabe”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.