An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

A device whose main function is detection.
Any device or array of electronic sensors connected to a computer, used to detect the passage of a particle or photon; e.g. a → charge-coupled device (CCD).

Etymology (EN): L.L. detector, from deteg(ere), → detect,

• -tor suffix forming agent noun.

Etymology (PE): škârgar, from âškâr present-tense stem of âškâridan “to detect” + -gar a suffix of agent nouns, from kar-, kardan “to do, to make” (Mid.Pers. kardan, O.Pers./Av. kar- “to do, make, build,” Av. kərənaoiti “makes,” cf. Skt. kr- “to do, to make,” krnoti “makes,” karma “act, deed;” PIE base k^wer- “to do, to make”).