The Collaborative International Dictionary
Photodrome \Pho"to*drome\, n. [Photo- + Gr. ? to run.] (Physics) An apparatus consisting of a large wheel with spokes, which when turning very rapidly is illuminated by momentary flashes of light passing through slits in a rotating disk. By properly timing the succession of flashes the wheel is made to appear to be motionless, or to rotate more or less slowly in either direction.
Wiktionary
n. (context dated English) An apparatus consisting of a large wheel with spokes, which when turning very rapidly is illuminated by momentary flashes of light passing through slits in a rotating disk. By properly timing the succession of flashes, the wheel is made to appear to be motionless, or to rotate more or less slowly in either direction.