An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

1. An apparatus for recording the light from an object onto a sensitive material, such as film or CCD detector.
   
2. A device that converts optical images into electrical impulses.

Etymology (EN): Mod.L. camera obscura “dark chamber” from L. camera “vaulted room,” from Gk. kamara “vault,” cf. Av. kamarâ- “waist; vault” Mod.Pers. kamar “waist,” Skt. kamarati “is vaulted;” PIE base *kam- “to arch.”

Etymology (PE): Kadak “small room,” from kad, kadé “room, chamber, habitation, vault, cell, cavern,” Mid.Pers. katak, Av. kata- “(small) room, closet, (small) house,” cf. Goth. hethjo “small room” O.S. kotici “cavern, nest,” PIE *kot(os).