Not too [OT], IMHO. We ought to know whereof we speak.
Warning: entering pedant mode:
I've always thought that the use of "diaphragm" to refer the variable camera
aperture device was quite wrong, as all other diaphragms I know of have no
orifice, or else they are seriously defective. I believe the proper term would
be "iris", as in your eye.
The Greek root is diaphragm: dia - I fence in; phraso - I enclose.
>From Van Nostrand's Scientific Encyclopaedia,
Diaphragm:
1.. The thin layers of muscle which suspend the insect heart within the body.
2.. The muscular partition between the thoracic and abdominal cavities of
mammals.
3.. Metal plastic, and rubber diaphragms find numerous industrial
applications in various packings , in pressure gauges, as seals, and in
diaphragm actuators and diaphragm motor valves.
4.. A form of diaphragm is used as a contraceptive device.
- Parzival
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----- Original Message -----
From: "Olaf Greve" <o.greve@xxxxxxx>
> The case is that Erwin enocuntered some funny meanings of the word
> "diaphragm". Much rather than its main meaning being indicated as a camera's
> diaphragm (i.e. aperture), most dictionaries primarily mentioned the meaning
> to be a contraceptive device.
>
> Now, this has left us wondering a bit about how the word diaphragm is
> generally perceived. I would assume that anyone who hears the terms
> diaphragm in a camera context will realise that people are talking about the
> aperture, but in general English how is this word most often used and is the
> word diaphragm commonly used to indicate the aperture? A subsequent question
> would be whether the usage of the word diaphragm in the descriptions on the
> TOPE pages should be omitted as it may result a bit too funny, or not. Any
> opinions?
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