A contrivance for permitting a body to incline freely in all directions, or for suspending anything, as a barometer, ship's compass, chronometer, etc., so that it will remain plumb, or level, when its support is tipped, as by the rolling of a ship. It consists of a ring in which the body can turn on an axis through a diameter of the ring, while the ring itself is so pivoted to its support that it can turn about a diameter at right angles to the first.

Hinges for objects such as lamps, compasses and stoves so that they can remain upright as the boat rolls.

an appliance that allows an object (such as a ship's compass) to remain horizontal even as its support tips

Frame that will support the weight of an object but allow its free rotation. Gimbals can be constructed to allow free rotation in one, two, or three axes.