Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Dial \Di"al\, n. [LL. dialis daily, fr. L. dies day. See
   {Deity}.]
   1. An instrument, formerly much used for showing the time of
      day from the shadow of a style or gnomon on a graduated
      arc or surface; esp., a sundial; but there are lunar and
      astral dials. The style or gnomon is usually parallel to
      the earth's axis, but the dial plate may be either
      horizontal or vertical.

   2. The graduated face of a timepiece, on which the time of
      day is shown by pointers or hands.

   3. A miner's compass.

   {Dial bird} (Zo["o]l.), an Indian bird ({Copsychus
      saularius}), allied to the European robin. The name is
      also given to other related species.

   {Dial lock}, a lock provided with one or more plates having
      numbers or letters upon them. These plates must be
      adjusted in a certain determined way before the lock can
      be operated.

   {Dial plate}, the plane or disk of a dial or timepiece on
      which lines and figures for indicating the time are
      placed.