gimbal

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

noun an appliance that allows an object (such as a ship's compass) to remain horizontal even as its support tips

Alteration of gemel, from Old French gemel, jumel (“twin”) (French jumeau), from Latin gemellus.

When he opened his eyes he looked up and saw a hanging-lamp that creaked on its gimbals as it swayed to the roll of the schooner. — Blow The Man Down: A Romance Of The Coast, Holman Day
The supporting gimbals took the load now, and slowly the great mass moved inward, carried by an overhead traveling crane whose track was bolted to the rock roof. — Astounding Stories, August, 1931, Various
Leaving his reputation to take care of itself, since, as is not seldom the case, he knew nothing of its being in debate, the herb-doctor, wandering towards the forward part of the boat, had there espied a singular character in a grimy old regimental coat, a countenance at once grim and wizened, interwoven paralyzed legs, stiff as icicles, suspended between rude crutches, while the whole rigid body, like a ship's long barometer on gimbals, swung to and fro, mechanically faithful to the motion of the boat. — The Confidence-Man: His Masquerade, Herman Melville

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