Dial bird

Dial Di"al, n. [LL. dialis daily, fr. L. dies day. See {Deity}.] 1. An instrument, formerly much used for showing the time of day from the shadow of a style or gnomon on a graduated arc or surface; esp., a sundial; but there are lunar and astral dials. The style or gnomon is usually parallel to the earth's axis, but the dial plate may be either horizontal or vertical. [1913 Webster]

2. The graduated face of a timepiece, on which the time of day is shown by pointers or hands. [1913 Webster]

3. A miner's compass. [1913 Webster]

{Dial bird} (Zo["o]l.), an Indian bird ({Copsychus saularius}), allied to the European robin. The name is also given to other related species.

{Dial lock}, a lock provided with one or more plates having numbers or letters upon them. These plates must be adjusted in a certain determined way before the lock can be operated.

{Dial plate}, the plane or disk of a dial or timepiece on which lines and figures for indicating the time are placed. [1913 Webster]