"any instrument that measures time or divides it into equal portions," especially "a time-keeper of great accuracy," 1735, from chrono- "time" + -meter. Related: Chronometric; chronometry.
Entries linking to chronometer
chrono-
before vowels chron-, word-forming element meaning "time," from Latinized form of Greek khronos "time, a defined time, a lifetime, a season, a while," which is of uncertain origin.
-meter
word-forming element meaning "device or instrument for measuring;" commonly -ometer, occasionally -imeter; from French -mètre, from Greek metron "a measure," from PIE root *me- (2) "to measure."