vernier
noun/ˈvɚniːɹ/
Etymology Borrowed from French vernier. From Pierre Vernier, the inventor.
1
A secondary scale with finer graduations than the primary scale of a measuring device; the vernier measures between graduations of the larger scale.
2
A secondary control input with finer control than the primary, or coarse, input; for example the vernier frequency tuning knob on a radio.
3
Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Physics A secondary system of force application for the attitude control of a spacecraft; for example a vernier thruster.
- Derived terms
- vernier caliper, vernier compass, vernier gage, vernier gauge