artificial horizon
–noun | 1. | a level, as a surface of mercury, used in determining the altitudes of stars. Compare level (def. 35). |
| 2. | the bubble in a sextant or octant for aerial use. |
| 3. | Also called flight indicator, gyro horizon. Aeronautics. an instrument that indicates the banking and pitch of an aircraft with respect to the horizon. |
Origin: 1795–1805
| flight indicator |
noun |
| a navigational instrument based on a gyroscope; it artificially provides a simulated horizon for the pilot [syn: artificial horizon] |
