an instrument for measuring the external dimensions of skulls
Word origin
[1875–80; cranio- + -meter]This word is first recorded in the period 1875–80. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: authoritarian, cross-fertilization, hat trick, weekend, weekender-meter is a combining form meaning “measure,” used in the names of instruments measuringquantity, extent, degree, etc. Other words that use the affix -meter include: gravimeter, manometer, spectrometer, telemeter, variometer