a device for observing ionizing radiation, consisting of a tube with a magnifying lens at one end and a phosphorescent screen at the other. A particle hitting the screen produces a scintillation
Word origin
C20: from Greek spintharis a little spark + -scope
spinthariscope in American English
(spɪnˈθærəˌskoʊp)
noun
a small device with a fluorescent screen, for visually observing the scintillations produced by the impact of alpha rays given off by a radioactive substance