Wiktionary
n. An instrument for telling time, like a sundial but relying on the light of the Moon.
Wikipedia
Moondial is a British television six-part serial made for children by the BBC and transmitted in 1988, with a repeat in 1990. It was written by Helen Cresswell, who also wrote the novel on which the series was based.
Moondials are time pieces similar to a sundial. The most basic moondial, which is identical to a sundial, is only accurate on the night of the full moon. Every night after it becomes an additional (on average) 48 minutes slow, while every night preceding the full moon it is (again on average) 49 minutes fast, assuming there is even enough light to take a reading by. Thus, one week to either side of the full moon the moondial will read 5 hours and 36 minutes before or after the proper time.
More advanced moondials can include charts showing the exact calculations to get the correct time, as well as dials designed with latitude and longitude in mind.
Moondials are very closely associated with lunar gardening (night-blooming plants) and some comprehensive gardening books may mention them.
Usage examples of "moondial".
Perhaps every architect preparing a villa hides a moondial for thieves, like a necessary tithe.