TELEGRAPH CABLE Meaning and
Definition
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A telegraph cable refers to a type of communication cable used in telegraphy, a system of long-distance communication primarily dependent on sending electrical signals over long distances. It is specifically designed for transmitting telegraphic messages or Morse code, an early form of electrical telecommunication.
A telegraph cable typically consists of an insulated core wire surrounded by various layers of protective materials. The core wire, often made of copper or later, steel, is responsible for transmitting electrical signals. To prevent signal interference and insulation damage, the core wire is typically wrapped with layers of gutta-percha, a natural polymer obtained from the latex of certain trees.
Additional layers, such as tarred hemp, iron wires, and lead sheathing, may be applied to further protect the cable from mechanical damage caused by external factors like water, corrosion, or pressure. These layers are essential in safeguarding the core wire and maintaining a stable transmission of electrical signals.
Telegraph cables were a crucial technological advancement in the 19th and early 20th centuries, enabling the rapid transmission of messages over vast distances, revolutionizing global communication. They were widely used in underwater or underground installations to connect distant locations and facilitate international telegraphy networks.
As advancements in technology progressed, telegraph cables were gradually replaced by more modern communication systems such as telephones and the internet. Nevertheless, their historical significance and pioneering role in global communication make telegraph cables a notable aspect of the development of human civilization.
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A cable consisting of several strands of iron-wire rope, each iron-wire rope encasing a single line of copper wire protected by tarred rope or some such insulating and protecting material, placed on the bottom of a river, strait, or sea, and now across the great Atlantic Ocean itself, for the purpose of conveying messages or intelligence to such places as are separated from one another by a body of water.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Common Misspellings for TELEGRAPH CABLE
- relegraph cable
- felegraph cable
- gelegraph cable
- yelegraph cable
- 6elegraph cable
- 5elegraph cable
- twlegraph cable
- tslegraph cable
- tdlegraph cable
- trlegraph cable
- t4legraph cable
- t3legraph cable
- tekegraph cable
- tepegraph cable
- teoegraph cable
- telwgraph cable
- telsgraph cable
- teldgraph cable
- telrgraph cable
- tel4graph cable
Etymology of TELEGRAPH CABLE
The word "telegraph cable" is a compound term consisting of two parts: "telegraph" and "cable".
The term "telegraph" derives from the Greek words "tele" (meaning "far") and "graphē" (meaning "writing"). It was first used in the early 19th century to refer to a system of communication that allowed messages to be transmitted over long distances through electrical signals.
The word "cable" comes from the Latin term "capulum", which means "lasso" or "rope". In the context of "telegraph cable", it refers to a long, insulated wire or rope used to transmit telegraphic signals underwater or underground.
When combined, "telegraph cable" refers to the physical means of transmitting telegraphic messages over long distances using an insulated wire or rope.
