An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

An equatorial mounting in which the declination axis is at the end of the polar axis, which is on top of a pier to raise the telescope to a convenient height.

Etymology (EN): German, from L. Germanus, maybe of Gaulish (Celtic) origin, perhaps originally meaning “noisy” (cf. O.Ir. garim “to shout”) or “neighbor” (cf. O.Ir. gair “neighbor”); → mounting.

Etymology (PE): Barnešând, → mounting; Âlmâni “German,” from Âlmân, from Fr. Allemand “German,”
from P.Gmc. *Alamanniz, probably meaning “all-man” and denoting a wide alliance of tribes. Alternatively, perhaps meaning “foreign men,” cognate with L. alius “the other.”