gimbals

• POS: Noun Plural
• HYPHEN: gim=bals

CIDE DICTIONARY

gimbals, n. [See Gimmal, n.].

 A contrivance for permitting a body to incline freely in all directions, or for suspending anything, as a barometer, ship's compass, chronometer, etc., so that it will remain plumb, or level, when its support is tipped, as by the rolling of a ship. It consists of a ring in which the body can turn on an axis through a diameter of the ring, while the ring itself is so pivoted to its support that it can turn about a diameter at right angles to the first.  [1913 Webster]

Gimbal joint (Mach.), a universal joint embodying the principle of the gimbal. -- Gimbal ring, a single gimbal, as that by which the cockeye of the upper millstone is supported on the spindle.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

gimbals, n.pl. a contrivance, usu. of rings and pivots, for keeping instruments such as a compass and chronometer horizontal at sea, in the air, etc.

Etymology

var. of earlier gimmal f. OF gemel double finger-ring f. L gemellus dimin. of geminus twin