Etymology

From Ancient Greek καλός ‎(kalós, “beautiful”) + εἶδος ‎(eîdos, “shape”) (compare -oid) +‎ -scope. Coined 1817, by David Brewster, its inventor.^[1]

Figurative sense of “constantly changing pattern” attested 1819 by Lord Byron, who had received a kaleidoscope from his publisher.^[1]

Pronunciation

• Hyphenation: ca‧lei‧do‧scoop