clepsydra

Empedocles performed his experiment with a household implement people had used for centuries, the so-called clepsydra or “water thief,” which was used as a kitchen ladle.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan

King Gundobad desired to become the possessor of a clepsydra or water-clock, such as had long been used in Athens and Rome, to regulate the time allotted to the orators in public debates.

From Theodoric the Goth Barbarian Champion of Civilisation by Thomas Hodgkin

The clepsydra naturally suggested to the mechanical mind the idea of driving a mechanism for registering time by the force of gravity acting on some body other than water.

From How it Works Dealing in simple language with steam, electricity, light, heat, sound, hydraulics, optics, etc., and with their applications to apparatus in common use by Archibald Williams

The water-clock, or clepsydra, has been known to the Chinese for centuries.

From China and the Chinese by Herbert Allen Giles

The clepsydra is said to have been known to the Egyptians.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 4 "Cincinnatus" to "Cleruchy" by Various

Smaller clepsydrae of glass were very early used in place of the sun-dial, to mark the hours.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 4 "Cincinnatus" to "Cleruchy" by Various

It seems probable that some of these water clocks could have been simple drip clepsydras, with perhaps a striking arrangement added.

From On the Origin of Clockwork, Perpetual Motion Devices, and the Compass by Derek J. de Solla (Derek John de Solla) Price

The flight of time in New England houses was marked without doors by sun-dials; within, by noon-marks, hour-glasses, and rarely by clepsydras, or water-clocks.

From Customs and Fashions in Old New England by Alice Morse Earle

Well," he said, "clepsydras always work better when nearly full than when nearly empty.

From Andivius Hedulio Adventures of a Roman Nobleman in the Days of the Empire by Edward Lucas White

Before there were hour-glasses and clepsydras, most phenomena could be estimated as to their durations and intervals, with no greater precision than degrees of hardness can be estimated by the fingers.

From Essays on Education and Kindred Subjects Everyman's Library by Herbert Spencer

"As near accuracy," I said, "as any clepsydras ever made."

From Andivius Hedulio Adventures of a Roman Nobleman in the Days of the Empire by Edward Lucas White