hour-lines

When the sea is moderately calm, and slightly marked with spherical ripples, and this gnomon-like fin stands up and casts shadows upon the wrinkled surface, it may well be supposed that the watery circle surrounding it somewhat resembles a dial, with its style and wavy hour-lines graved on it.

Moby Dick; or the Whale 2002

On the upper part of the Table were 8 reclining dials, glazed, and showing the hour in different ways -- as by the shade of the style falling upon the hour-lines, the hour-lines falling on the style, or without any shade of hour-lines or style, &c.

The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction Volume 14, No. 400, November 21, 1829 Various

These bowls were painted inside so as to keep out the light, except a point left like a star, through which the sun-beams showed the hour; and the place where the hour-lines were drawn, was only painted on the outside thinly with white colour, so that the sun-light passing through the star might be seen, and show the hour.

The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction Volume 14, No. 400, November 21, 1829 Various

The dials on these bowls showed only the usual hour, and otherwise differed from the third piece; here the hour-lines being left clear for the sunbeams to pass through, that by so passing, they might exhibit the same dial on the opposite side of the bowl, which was thinly painted white, that the said hours might be seen, and show the hour by their passing over a little star painted in the middle.

The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction Volume 14, No. 400, November 21, 1829 Various

Upon the upper part of the table were 8 reclining planes, 4 covered with looking-glass, on which the hour-lines, or style of a dial being painted, were reflected upon the bottom inclining planes of the third piece, and there showed the hour.

The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction Volume 14, No. 400, November 21, 1829 Various

Among the pictures on some of the glasses were portraits of the king, the two queens, the duke of York, prince Rupert, &c. In the king's picture, the hour was shown by the shade of the hour-lines passing over the top of the sceptre -- perhaps the only time the royal trifier ever pointed to so useful an end.

The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction Volume 14, No. 400, November 21, 1829 Various

The north side of this piece was thinly painted over white, that the shade of a little golden ball, placed in the middle of the bowl, might be seen to pass over the hour-lines which were drawn upon the white colour, and noted the hour.

The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction Volume 14, No. 400, November 21, 1829 Various

To ascertain where to mark the hour-lines on the ground, or wall, on which the shadow of the gnomon falls, the simplest plan is to use a watch, or whatever makeshift means of reckoning time be at hand.

The Art of Travel Shifts and Contrivances Available in Wild Countries Francis Galton 1866

When the sea is moderately calm, and slightly marked with spherical ripples, and this gnomon-like fin stands up and casts shadows upon the wrinkled surface, it may well be supposed that the watery circle surrounding it somewhat resembles a dial, with its style and wavy hour-lines graved on it.

Moby Dick, or, the whale Herman Melville 1855

When the sea is moderately calm, and slightly marked with spherical ripples, and this gnomon-like fin stands up and casts shadows upon the wrinkled surface, it may well be supposed that the watery circle surrounding it somewhat resembles a dial, with its style and wavy hour-lines graved on it.

Moby Dick: or, the White Whale Herman Melville 1855