gimbal

1 of 2

noun

gim·​bal ˈgim-bəl  ˈjim- 

: a device that permits a body to incline freely in any direction or suspends it so that it will remain level when its support is tipped

—usually used in plural

called also gimbal ring

gimbal

2 of 2

verb

gimballed or gimbaled; gimballing or gimbaling

transitive verb

: to provide with or support on gimbals

Did you know?

One place you might encounter gimbals is on a ship, where they are used to keep compasses and other things level with the horizon in contrast to the pitch and roll of the vessel at sea. The word gimbal is an alteration of "gemel," a word for a type of finger-ring popular in the 16th century that could be divided into two separate rings. The word comes from Anglo-French gemel ("twin"), which in turn comes from Latin gemellus, a diminutive of "geminus," the Latin word for "twin."

Examples of gimbal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

With a wider angle, 48MP telephoto lens and integrated gimbal, participants across the room are seen as clearly as those sitting at the front of the room. —Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024

Instead, the drones are equipped with a simple-yet-effective vibration-damping gimbal with two telescope-like tubes. —New Atlas, 16 Dec. 2024

Verb

Much of what has made DJI gimbals great remains in the Osmo Mobile 3, but the company made this device more compact and more affordable at $119. —Valentina Palladino and Jeff Dunn, Ars Technica, 20 Nov. 2019

Word History

Etymology

Noun

alteration of obsolete gemel double ring, from Middle English, from Anglo-French gemel, jomel, from Latin gemellus, diminutive of geminus

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1780, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1875, in the meaning defined above

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