(Zoöl.), one of three or more large species of
African catfish of the genus Malapterurus (esp. M. electricus of the Nile). They have a large electrical
organ and are able to give powerful shocks; — called also sheathfish. —
, a current or stream of electricity traversing
a closed circuit formed of conducting substances, or passing by means of conductors from one body to
another which is in a different electrical state. —
Electric, or Electrical
,
eel
, (Zoöl.), a South American
eel-like fresh-water fish of the genus Gymnotus from two to five feet in length, capable of giving a violent
electric shock. See Gymnotus. —
Electrical fish
(Zoöl.), any fish which has an electrical organ by
means of which it can give an electrical shock. The best known kinds are the torpedo, the gymnotus,
or electrical eel, and the electric cat. See Torpedo, and Gymnotus. —
Electric fluid
, the supposed
matter of electricity; lightning. —
Electrical image
(Elec.), a collection of electrical points regarded as
forming, by an analogy with optical phenomena, an image of certain other electrical points, and used
in the solution of electrical problems.Sir W. Thomson. —
Electrical light
, the light produced by a
current of electricity which in passing through a resisting medium heats it to incandescence or burns
it. See under Carbon. —
Electric, or Electrical
,
machine
, an apparatus for generating, collecting,
or exciting, electricity, as by friction. —
, a hand pen for making perforated stencils for multiplying
writings. It has a puncturing needle driven at great speed by a very small magneto-electric engine on
the penhandle. —
Electric railway
, a railway in which the machinery for moving the cars is driven by
an electric current. —