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orrery

noun /ˈɒɹ.ə.ɹi/

  1. A clockwork model of any given solar system.

    In the mean time I have another trouble to give you, if you will oblige me in it; and that is to get me a sight of the famous Orrery, which I have heard you and others so often speak of; and which I think was made by Mr. Rowley, the famous Mathematical Instrument-Maker.

  2. A conceptual model of someone's worldview.

    figuratively

Where it comes from

Named after Charles Boyle, 4th Earl of Orrery (1676–1731), for whom such a device was made. The placename is from Irish Orbhraighe, originally the name of a tribe (Orbh-raighe (“Orb's people”)), and then of a territory and a barony.

Adapted from the Wiktionary entry orrery (CC BY-SA 4.0).

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