Meanings
plural fathometers
- nauticalA depth finder that uses sound waves to determine the depth of water.
A Fathometer is just a vertical echo-ranger; its pings would sound the same and could drive a submarine out of position just as effectively as horizontal echo-ranging and might even make a contact.
1977, Richard O'Kane, Clear the Bridge: The War Patrols of the U.S.S. Tang, Ballantine Books, published 2003, page 347
Synonyms & antonyms
noundepth finder for determining depth of water or a submerged object by means of ultrasound waves
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
From fathom (“nautical length measurement used for depth”) + -meter.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Finnish kaikuluotain, kaiku
- kaikuluotaindepth finder
- kaikudepth finder
Indonesian fatometer
- fatometerdepth finder
Malay fatometer
- fatometerdepth finder
Cite this entry
fathometer. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/fathometer
“fathometer.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/fathometer. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “fathometer,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/fathometer.
Source: fathometer on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.