or -ian. Also tellurium. [f. L. tellūs, tellūr-em the earth.] An apparatus illustrating the effect of the earth’s diurnal rotation and annual revolution and obliquity of axis in causing the alternations of day and night and the succession of the seasons; a simple kind of orrery.
1784. W. Jones, Portable Orrery (ed. 2), II. 26. The knowledge of the nature and causes of the vicissitudes of the Seasons, Days and Nights, Eclipses, &c. the explication of which is seen by the other part of the Orrery, namely the Tellurian.
1831. Mechanics’ Mag., XIV. 370/2. When the tellurian is to be used, the sign Cancer must be set toward the north.
1842. Francis, Dict Arts, Tellurion, an instrument for showing the effect of the earth’s motions and the obliquity of her axis.
1891. Cath. News, 24 Jan., 4/4. Irreverent persons echoed the inquisitive auditor’s query as to the uses of a tellurion.
