Spec"u*lum (?), n.; pl. L.
Specula (#), E. Speculum (#). [L.,
fr. specere to look, behold. See Spy.]
1. A mirror, or looking-glass; especially, a
metal mirror, as in Greek and Roman archæology.
2. A reflector of polished metal, especially
one used in reflecting telescopes. See Speculum metal,
below.
3. (Surg.) An instrument for dilating
certain passages of the body, and throwing light within them, thus
facilitating examination or surgical operations.
4. (Zoöl.) A bright and lustrous
patch of color found on the wings of ducks and some other birds. It is
usually situated on the distal portions of the secondary quills, and
is much more brilliant in the adult male than in the female.
Speculum metal, a hard, brittle alloy used
for making the reflectors of telescopes and other instruments, usually
consisting of copper and tin in various proportions, one of the best
being that in which there are 126.4 parts of copper to 58.9 parts of
tin, with sometimes a small proportion of arsenic, antimony, or zinc
added to improve the whiteness.
Spec"u*lum (?), n.; pl. L.
Specula (#), E. Speculum (#). [L.,
fr. specere to look, behold. See Spy.]
1. A mirror, or looking-glass; especially, a
metal mirror, as in Greek and Roman archæology.
2. A reflector of polished metal, especially
one used in reflecting telescopes. See Speculum metal,
below.
3. (Surg.) An instrument for dilating
certain passages of the body, and throwing light within them, thus
facilitating examination or surgical operations.
4. (Zoöl.) A bright and lustrous
patch of color found on the wings of ducks and some other birds. It is
usually situated on the distal portions of the secondary quills, and
is much more brilliant in the adult male than in the female.
Speculum metal, a hard, brittle alloy used
for making the reflectors of telescopes and other instruments, usually
consisting of copper and tin in various proportions, one of the best
being that in which there are 126.4 parts of copper to 58.9 parts of
tin, with sometimes a small proportion of arsenic, antimony, or zinc
added to improve the whiteness.
