Definition
A precision optical surveying instrument consisting of a telescope mounted on a tripod with rotating horizontal and vertical scales, used to measure angles and distances in mapmaking and construction.
Example Usage
The surveyor used a theodolite to establish the exact property boundaries before construction began.
Origin
Likely from Greek 'theos' (God) and 'hodos' (way or path), though the exact etymology is disputed; popularized by surveyors in the 16th century.
Fun Fact
Despite the advent of laser theodolites and GPS, traditional optical theodolites remain in use because they require no batteries and provide unmatched precision in certain applications.
Source: Definition backfill (hailey)
Related Terms
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