Drafting instrument is spelled as /ˈdræftɪŋ ˈɪnstrəmənt/. The word "drafting" is pronounced with a short "a" sound as in "cat," followed by a silent "f" and a long "i" sound as in "pie." The word "instrument" is pronounced with a short "i" sound as in "it," followed by "nstr" before ending with a short "u" sound as in "up" and a schwa sound. This term refers to tools, such as rulers or compasses, used for drawing technical plans or designs.
A drafting instrument is a specialized tool used in the field of drafting or technical drawing, primarily employed to create accurate and precise drawings, plans, or blueprints. It is typically designed to provide precision, control, and measurement capabilities necessary for creating detailed and scaled drawings.
Drafting instruments come in various forms and types, each serving a specific purpose. The most common drafting instruments include:
1. Compass: A tool used to draw circles or arcs of specific radii accurately.
2. Protractor: A device used to measure or draw angles precisely.
3. Scale ruler: A ruler with different measurement scales, such as architectural, engineering, or metric, allowing precise scaling of drawings.
4. T-square: A rigid, L-shaped instrument used for drawing straight lines or guiding other drafting tools.
5. Drafting triangles: Triangular rulers made of transparent material, used to draw and measure angles and lines accurately.
6. French curve: A flexible, curved ruler used to draw smooth and irregular curves or arcs.
7. Templates: Pre-designed shapes or symbols used to quickly replicate standard elements, such as circles, ellipses, polygons, letters, or icons.
These drafting instruments are typically made of durable materials, such as plastic, metal, or transparent materials, to ensure longevity and accuracy in the drafting process. They are often utilized in engineering, architecture, cartography, industrial design, and other disciplines that require precise technical drawings.
The word "drafting" originated from the Middle English word "draught" or "draft", which comes from the Old English word "dræft" meaning "a pulling, drawing, or dragging". It ultimately has its roots in Proto-Germanic and Old Norse languages.
The term "instrument", on the other hand, comes from the Latin word "instrumentum", which means "a tool or implement". It is derived from the Latin verb "instruere", which means "to equip or prepare".
When combined, "drafting instrument" refers to a tool or implement used for pulling, drawing, or dragging lines or shapes in the process of creating technical drawings or designs.