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Webster 1913 Edition

Hourglass

Hour′glassˊ

,
Noun.
An instrument for measuring time, especially the interval of an hour. It consists of a glass vessel having two compartments, from the uppermost of which a quantity of sand, water, or mercury occupies an hour in running through a small aperture unto the lower.
☞ A similar instrument measuring any other interval of time takes its name from the interval measured; as, a
half-hour glass
, a
half-minute glass
. A
three-minute glass
is sometimes called an egg-glass, from being used to time the boiling of eggs.

Webster 1828 Edition

Hourglass

HOUR'GLASS

,
Noun.
our'glass. A chronometer that measures the flux of time by the running of sand from one glass vessel to another, through a small aperture. Instead of sand, dry egg shells pulverized are sometimes used. The quantity of sand may be so proportioned as to measure an hour, a half hour, or a quarter.
1.
Space of time.

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