graticule

Meanings

1. A grid of horizontal and vertical lines; specifically, one used as a guide to proportionately enlarge or reduce a drawing.
2. The network of lines of latitude and longitude that make up a coordinate system such as the one used for charts and maps of the Earth.
3. Synonym of reticle (“a transparent plate marked with a crosshair, grid, or scale which is used in an optical instrument, etc., to aid in alignment, counting, or measurement of objects being observed; also, the crosshair, grid, or scale on such a plate”).
4. A (nearly) rectangular or square region created by a grid of horizontal and vertical lines.

Etymology

Borrowed from French graticule, from Medieval Latin grātīcula, from Latin crāticula (“grating, grill”), from crātis (“hurdle; wickerwork”) (probably from Proto-Indo-European *kréh₂-tis (“fenced handiwork”)) + -cula (feminine form of -culus, a variant of -ulus (“diminutive suffix”)).

Translations