camera-lucida

Cam"e*ra lu"ci*da. Etym: [L. camera chamber + L. lucidus, lucida, lucid, light.] (Opt.) Defn: An instrument which by means of a prism of a peculiar form, or an arrangement of mirrors, causes an apparent image of an external object or objects to appear as if projected upon a plane surface, as of paper or canvas, so that the outlines may conveniently traced. It is generally used with the microscope.

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