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  2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Hourglass  \Hour"glass`\,  n. 
  An  instrument  for  measuring  time,  especially  the  interval  of 
  an  hour.  It  consists  of  a  glass  vessel  having  two 
  compartments,  from  the  uppermost  of  which  a  quantity  of  sand, 
  water,  or  mercury  occupies  an  hour  in  running  through  a  small 
  aperture  unto  the  lower. 
 
  Note:  A  similar  instrument  measuring  any  other  interval  of 
  time  takes  its  name  from  the  interval  measured;  as  a 
  {half-hour  glass},  a  {half-minute  glass}.  A 
  {three-minute  glass}  is  sometimes  called  an  egg-glass, 
  from  being  used  to  time  the  boiling  of  eggs. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  hourglass 
  n  :  passage  of  time  is  indicated  by  the  flow  of  sand  from  one 
  transparent  container  to  another  through  a  narrow  passage 
  [syn:  {sandglass}] 

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