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gim·bal

(gĭmbəl, jĭm-)

1. A rigid frame or ring in which an object is supported by pivots. Two such rings mounted concentrically on axes at right angles to each other allow an object such as a ship's compass to remain suspended in a horizontal plane between them regardless of any motion of its support.

2. often gimbals A device consisting of gimbals.

tr.v. gim·baled, gim·bal·ing, gim·bals or gim·balled or gim·bal·ling

To supply with or support on gimbals.

[Alteration of obsolete gemel, double ring; see GIMMAL.]

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gimbal

a gyroscope with two gimbals

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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