[f. THERMO- + MULTIPLIER 4.] Early name for a THERMOPILE: so called in reference to the multiplying effect of the numerous cells in the battery.
1835. Faraday, trans. Melloni, in Philos. Mag., VII. 475. In order to experiment under these circumstances, it is clearly necessary to employ an extremely delicate thermoscope, such as well-constructed thermomultipliers.
1854. J. Scoffern, in Orr’s Circ. Sc., Chem., 276. The thermo-multiplier of Nobili consists of about fifty pairs of antimony and bismuth bars.
1879. Newcomb & Holden, Astron., 495. In the case of the brighter stars the heat radiated has been made sensible in the foci of our telescopes by means of the thermo-multiplier.
So Thermo-multiple in same sense.
1895. in Funk’s Stand. Dict.
