sundial

From sun +‎ dial, a clarification of dial after it was used for other objects as well.

• IPA^(key): /ˈsʌnˌdaɪ.əl/

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

sundial (plural sundials)

1. A device measuring the time of day by the position of a shadow cast by a pole or plate (gnomon) upon an engraved series of marks.

   The birdbath includes a small gnomon that acts as a sundial with markings on the basin if it's aligned correctly with the sun.

   • 1907 August, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, chapter VIII, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC:

     Elbows almost touching they leaned at ease, idly reading the almost obliterated lines engraved there.
     "I never understood it," she observed, lightly scornful. "What occult meaning has a sun-dial for the spooney? I'm sure I don't want to read riddles in a strange gentleman's optics."

• dial, horologe, horologium (archaic)

• (on churches): mass dial, tide dial, scratch dial

• sciatheric (adj.); gnomon, style, cock (marker)

• dunsail