1. A mechanical model of the solar system, or of just the sun, Earth, and moon, used to represent their relative positions and motions.
“The antique orrery held a place of honor in the library.”
“My grandmother still has the styrofoam orrery I made in elementary school, with Jupiter painted pink.”
“The orrery received quite a bit of use in the science class during the space lessons.”
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British English, early 18th century
An orrery is a model of the solar system; the moniker traces back to a commission from Charles Boyle, the 4th Earl of Orrery. It’s believed the first mechanical model of the sun and the planets was made by horologist (clockmaker) George Graham around 1713, and Boyle commissioned him to make another shortly after. …
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