zone-clock, n.

zone-clock
http://www.oed.com/dictionary/zone-clock_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_use
First published 1921; not fully revised

# zone-clocknoun

## Factsheet

### Where does the noun zone-clock come from?

Earliest known use

late 1700s

The earliest known use of the noun zone-clock is in the late 1700s.

OED's only evidence for zone-clock is from 1795, in the writing of William Herschel, musician and astronomer.

### Nearby entries

1. zona radiata, n. 1881–
2. zona reticularis, n. 1874–
3. zonarious, adj. 1656–
4. zonary, adj. 1881–
5. zonate, adj. 1866–
6. zonated, adj. 1803–
7. zonation, n. 1898–
8. zone, n. a1500–
9. zone, v. 1792–
10. zone centre | zone center, n. 1934–
11. zone-clock, n.1795–
12. zoned, adj. 1662–
13. zone defence | zone defense, n. 1927–
14. zone electrophoresis, n. 1952–
15. zone fossil, n. 1904–
16. zoneless, adj. 1748–
17. zonelet, n. 1855–
18. zone level, v. 1974–
19. zone leveller, n. 1956–
20. zone levelling, n. 1953–
21. zone-melt, v. 1982–

## Meaning & use

1. 1795–
   See zone n. Compounds.
   1. 1795

      > It would not only be trouble~some to the workman, but often bring on mistakes, were he to count the turns of the handle, which perhaps for hours together he is moving; a zone-clock, therefore, has been contrived to release him from that care... It strikes a bell..when the telescope is come to one of the limits of the zone.

      W. Herschel in Philosophical Transactions (Royal Society) vol. 85 398

Originally published as part of the entry for zone, n.

zone, n. was first published in 1921; not fully revised.