Sailing Glossary - Term Cup anemometer

Anemometer which measures wind speed by the speed of rotation of 3 or 4 hemispherical or conical cups, each fixed to the end of a horizontal arm projecting from a vertical axis. Invented about 1845 by Thomas Romney Robinson (1792-1882), an Irish astronomer and physicist. See condenser-discharge anemometer, contact anemometer. Compare to bridled-cup anemometer.