a. [f. as prec. + -AL: see -ICAL.]
1. Of, pertaining to, or dealing with topography.
1570–6. Lambarde, Peramb. Kent, Introd. (1826), 6. Which collection (bicause it was digested into Titles by order of Alphabet, and concerned the description of places) I called a Topographicall Dictionarie.
a. 1586. Sidney, Lett., Misc. Wks. (1829), 280. The topographical description of each country.
a. 1646. J. Gregory, Maps & Charts, Posth. (1650), 323. A particular Description and Topographical Table of Middleser.
1710. Stillingfleet’s Wks., Life, 56. An unusual variety of … topographical observations.
1803. Wellington, in Gurw., Desp. (1837), II. 104. I am also desirous of having … any general topographical account of the country.
1860. Maury, Phys. Geog. Sea (Low), xxi. § 871. The topographical features and the climates of the antarctic regions.
† b. Topographical instrument, the name given by Digges to a combined surveying instrument, such as is now called a THEODOLITE. Obs.
1571. Digges, Pantom., I. xxxiv. K iij b. Set vp your Instrument Topographicall on his staffe.
1611. A. Hopton, Topogr. Glass, vi. 27. To work as the Theodelitus, and Topographicall Instrument…. If you make this instrument like to that which Maister Digges called the Topographical Instrument, then is there a Boxe and a Needle … in the center of the Planisphere, over which there doth stand a perpendicular, whereon is placed a Semicircle … to move about with the Alhidada.
2. Pertaining to the description of the parts or regions of the body: cf. TOPOGRAPHY 3.
1857. Dunglison, Med. Lex., s.v. Anatomy, Topographical anatomy.
1890. Billings, Med. Dict., s.v. Anatomy, Topographical anatomy, describing them [the organs] by regions.
