2. (Crystallog.) Having the planes arranged spirally, so that they incline all to the right (or left) of a
vertical line; — said of certain hemihedral forms.
3. (Opt.) Turning the plane of polarization circularly or spirally to the right or left.
Gyrolepis
(||Gy*rol"e*pis) n. [NL., fr. Gr. gyro`s round + lepi`s scale.] (Paleon.) A genus of ganoid
fishes, found in strata of the new red sandstone, and the lias bone beds. Agassiz.
Gyroma
(||Gy*ro"ma) n. [NL., fr. Gr. gyroy^n to round, bend, fr. gyro`s round.] A turning round. [R.]
Gyromancy
(Gyr"o*man`cy) (jir"o*man`sy or ji"ro-), n. [Gr. gy^ros ring, circle + -mancy: cf. F. gyromancie.]
A kind of divination performed by drawing a ring or circle, and walking in or around it. Brande & C.
Gyron
(Gy"ron) n. [F. giron; of German origin. See Gore a piece of cloth.] (Her.) A subordinary of
triangular form having one of its angles at the fess point and the opposite side at the edge of the escutcheon.
When there is only one gyron on the shield it is bounded by two lines drawn from the fess point, one
horizontally to the dexter side, and one to the dexter chief corner.
Gyronny
(Gy"ron*ny) a. [F. gironné.] (Her.) Covered with gyrons, or divided so as to form several gyrons; —
said of an escutcheon.
Gyro-pigeon
(Gy"ro-pi`geon) n. [L. gyrare to revolve + E. pigeon.] A flying object simulating a pigeon
in flight, when projected from a spring trap. It is used as a flying target in shooting matches. Knight.
Gyroscope
(Gy"ro*scope) n. [Gr. gy^ros ring, circle + - scope.]
1. A rotating wheel, mounted in a ring or rings, for illustrating the dynamics of rotating bodies, the composition
of rotations, etc. It was devised by Professor W. R. Johnson, in 1832, by whom it was called the rotascope.
2. A form of the above apparatus, invented by M. Foucault, mounted so delicately as to render visible
the rotation of the earth, through the tendency of the rotating wheel to preserve a constant plane of
rotation, independently of the earth's motion.
Gyroscopic
(Gy`ro*scop"ic) a. Pertaining to the gyroscope; resembling the motion of the gyroscope.
Gyrose
(Gy*rose") a. [See Gyre.] (Bot.) Turned round like a crook, or bent to and fro. Loudon.
Gyrostat
(Gy"ro*stat) n. [Gr. gy^ros ring, circle + "ista`nai to cause to stand.] (Physics) A modification
of the gyroscope, consisting essentially of a fly wheel fixed inside a rigid case to which is attached a thin
flange of metal for supporting the instrument. It is used in studying the dynamics of rotating bodies.
Gyrostatic
(Gy`ro*stat"ic) a. (Physics) Of or pertaining to the gyrostat or to gyrostatics.
Gyrostatics
(Gy`ro*stat"ics) n. (Physics) The doctrine or theory of the gyrostat, or of the phenomena
of rotating bodies.
Gyrus
(||Gy"rus) n.; pl. Gyri [L. See Gyre, n.] A convoluted ridge between grooves; a convolution; as,
the gyri of the brain; the gyri of brain coral. See Brain.
Gyse
(Gyse) n. Guise. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Gyte
(Gyte) a. Delirious; senselessly extravagant; as, the man is clean gyte. [Scot.] Sir W. Scott.
