[f. ELECTRO- + Gr. -σκόπος looker.] An instrument for ascertaining the presence of electricity, and its quality if present. Hence Electroscopic a. [see -IC], measured by the electroscope.
1824. Mech. Mag., No. 66. 150. The aerial electroscope is an instrument for determining the electric state of the atmosphere.
1870. R. Ferguson, Electr., 53. A gold leaf electroscope.
1881. Maxwell, Electr. & Magn., I. 300. Instruments by means of which the existence of electric charges … may be indicated, but which are not capable of affording numerical measures, are called Electroscopes.
1842. Turner, Chem. (ed. 7), 85. Several simple electroscopic methods.
1879. G. Prescott, Sp. Telephone, 285. The electroscopic delicacy of the telephone.
