volvelle

English

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English volvelle, from Medieval Latin volvellum, volvella, from volvō +‎ -ellum.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈvɒlˌvɛl/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈvɑlˌvɛl/

Noun

volvelle (plural volvelles)

1. (historical) A type of slide chart, a paper construction with rotating parts, formerly used for organization and calculation in astronomy and other subjects.
   • c. 1521, John Skelton, Speke Parott:

     Tholomye and Haly were cunnynd and wyſe
     In the voluell, in the quadrant, and in the aſtroloby,
     To pronoſtycate truly the chaunce of fortunys dyſe.

Middle English

Etymology 1

Borrowed from Medieval Latin volvella, variant of volvellum, from volvō +‎ -ellum.

Alternative forms

• volvel

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /vɔlˈvɛl(ə)/, /ˈvɔlvɛl(ə)/

Noun

volvelle

1. A moving part of an astronomical instrument.

Descendants

• English: volvelle

References

• “volvelle, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.

Etymology 2

Verb

volvelle

1. (Kent) Alternative form of fulfillen