Counter

—1. A mechanism for registering or counting the revolutions or double strokes of an engine or pump. In an engine counter, water meter, or similar counter, whatever number of counter dials (or wheels) there may be, the right-hand always records 10; the next to the left 100; the 3rd, 1,000; the 4th, 10,000; the 5th, 100,000; and the 6th, 1,000,000. Hence, one having six dials can register 1,000,000 revolutions. When a counter has completed its full number of recording, all the numbers will show zero, to which must be added an imaginary one, making for seven dials or wheels, ten millions; and the next stroke of the engine will begin a new series with 1, etc. 2. The overhang of a ship’s stern.