silo meter

[First element doubtful; Diez derives it from Scand. sila to plow, and Littré from Fr. siller =to make sail; Gr. metron a measure.] Naut .: An instrument for measuring, without the aid of the log-line, the distance pa ed over by a ship. Various forms have been proposed or actually constructed. sil-phạ, s. [Gr. silphea grub, an insect emitting an evil odor, perhaps Blatta.] Entom.: The typical genus of the family Silphide; widely distributed.