bow compass

bow compass

[′bau̇ ‚käm·pəs]

(graphic arts)

A small compass whose legs are connected by a spring shaped like a bow, rather than by a joint.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

bow compass

A compass, one leg of which carries a pencil or pen; the legs are connected by a bow-shaped spring instead of a joint; used to draw arcs or circles.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Architecture and Construction. Copyright © 2003 by McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.