hourglass
nounfeminine/ɐ̃pulˈʎetɐ/medium
am·pu·lhe·ta
Definition
An ancient instrument for measuring time, consisting of two glass containers connected by a narrow neck, through which sand flows from one to the other.
The library's hourglass measured half an hour.
Time passed slowly like the sand in an hourglass.
syn
Common collocations
turn the hourglasshourglass figure
Etymology
Do latim 'ampulla' (garrafa pequena) + 'hecta' (do grego 'hekatón', cem), por influência de 'ampulheta' como medida.