What is "armil"

Armil \Ar"mil\, n. [L. armilla a bracelet, fr. armus arm: cf. OF. armille.]

1. A bracelet. [Obs.]

2. An ancient astronomical instrument.

   Note: When composed of one ring placed in the plane of the equator for determining the time of the equinoxes, it is called an equinoctial armil; when of two or more rings, one in the plane of the meridian, for observing the solstices, it is called a solstitial armil.
   --Whewell. [1913 Webster] ||

n. 1 (context obsolete English) A bracelet. 2 (context obsolete English) An ancient astronomical instrument, having either one ring placed in the plane of the equator for determining the time of the equinoxes (an ''equinoctial armil'') or two or more rings, one in the plane of the meridian, for observing the solstices (a ''solstitial armil'').