'Dial bird' definitions:
Definition of 'Dial bird'
From: GCIDE
- Dial \Di"al\, n. [LL. dialis daily, fr. L. dies day. See Deity.]
- 1. An instrument, formerly much used for showing the time of day from the shadow of a style or gnomon on a graduated arc or surface; esp., a sundial; but there are lunar and astral dials. The style or gnomon is usually parallel to the earth's axis, but the dial plate may be either horizontal or vertical. [1913 Webster]
- 2. The graduated face of a timepiece, on which the time of day is shown by pointers or hands. [1913 Webster]
- 3. A miner's compass. [1913 Webster]
- Dial bird (Zool.), an Indian bird (Copsychus saularius), allied to the European robin. The name is also given to other related species.
- Dial lock, a lock provided with one or more plates having numbers or letters upon them. These plates must be adjusted in a certain determined way before the lock can be operated.
- Dial plate, the plane or disk of a dial or timepiece on which lines and figures for indicating the time are placed. [1913 Webster]