English

Noun

hydrophore ‎(plural hydrophores)

1. (obsolete) An instrument used to obtain specimens of water from any desired depth.
   • 1842, David Stevenson, “Hydrometrical Observations”, in The Edinburgh New Philosophical Journal, volume 32, page 388:

     Fig. 9. represents a hydrophore used for procuring specimens of water from moderate depths, drawn on a scale of one-tenth of the full size.

   • 1842, The Practical Mechanic and Engineer's Magazine:

     When the hydrophore is to be used, the cylinder is lowered to the required depth by the pole which is fixed to its side; or if the depth be greater than the range of the pole, it is loaded with weights, and let down by means of a rope so attached as to keep it in a vertical position.

   • 1878, David Stevenson, Life of Robert Stevenson, Civil Engineer, page 233:

     The valves, however, in this instrument are not opened by means of a cord, but by the impact of the projecting part, d, of the lower spindle on the bottom, when the hydrophore is sunk to that depth.

2. (zoology) A cup-like projection that terminates the pedicels of some hydroids.
   • 1907, Sydney John Hickson, Hydroid zoophytes, page 26:

     It is, in our opinion, unfortunate that the term "hydrophore" has come into general use for this rudimentary form of hydrotheca.

   • 1938, Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria, page 314:

     Thus if Phylactothcca is to be regarded as a valid genus, it can only be, on the basis of Billard's definition, if the hydrophores are definitely not of the typical Halecium-form.

   • 1946, Charles McLean Fraser, Distribution and Relationship in American Hydroids, page 276:

     The very short hydrophore pedicel projects from a shelf-like process near the distal end of the internode, which is not enlarged where the hydrophore appears.

   • 2001, Peter Schuchert, Hydroids of Greenland and Iceland:

     Internodes approximately uniform but becoming shorter distally, segments comparatively short, hydrophore distal, usually parallel with segment, not delimited by node.

3. (sculpture) A sculpture of a standing female figure carrying a water vessel on her head.
   • 1987, Literature, Music, Fine Arts, volume 21, page 182:

     The hydrophore (VI), on the other hand, which is quite well preserved, was probably the work of an artist in Magna Graecia, as Mrs. Tölle-Kastenbein has suggested.

   • 1997, BABESCH, Bulletin Antieke Beschaving, number 72:

     Thusm the ridged eyebrows are very common; to mention only some examples: the Boston and Axos heads just mentioned, the "hydrophore" of the Olive Tree pediment and Zeus of the Introduction gable on the Acropolis, the 'Hera' head in Olympia (Fig. 9), Medusa and Chrysaor of the Corfu gable (Fig. 10) etc.

   • 2015, Robert S. Wagman, The Cave of the Nymphs at Pharsalus: Studies on a Thessalian Country Shrine:

     The sculptural type of the hydrophore—a standing female figure represented in the act of holding a water vessel on her head—is well attested across the Greek world, especially continental Greece and Southern Italy.

4. A tank used to provide water pressure.
   • 1961, W.P.A. van Lammeren, Ships and Marine Engines: Practical shipbuilding, page 390:

     In the case of a hydrophore installation, each hydrophore always having two pumps, the tank invariably contains water under pressure, so that some time is available for repairs.

   • 2010, Maria Block, The Whole Building Handbook:

     These days, a pressure tank (hydrophore) is usually used and the same pump that pumps water up from the well is also used to create pressure in the tank.

   • 2013, M.A. Clarke, editor, Chemistry and Processing of Sugarbeet and Sugarcane:

     During filtration, sludge is pressed out of the hydrophore by compressed air and divided into two portions, one portion (abot 60%) being returned to the prelimer, the rest being filtered on rotary vacuum filters or on automatic filter presses.