fathometer

fathometer

English

Etymology

    From fathom (nautical length measurement used for depth) + -meter.

    Noun

    fathometer (plural fathometers)

    1. (nautical) A depth finder that uses sound waves to determine the depth of water.
      • 1977, Richard O'Kane, Clear the Bridge: The War Patrols of the U.S.S. Tang, Ballantine Books, published 2003, page 347:
        A Fathometer is just a vertical echo-ranger; its pings would sound the same and could drive a submarine out of position just as effectively as horizontal echo-ranging and might even make a contact.

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