n. [ Gr. &unr_; far, far off (cf. Lith. toli) + -graph: cf. F. télégraphe. See Graphic. ] An apparatus, or a process, for communicating intelligence rapidly between distant points, especially by means of preconcerted visible or audible signals representing words or ideas, or by means of words and signs, transmitted by electrical action. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The instruments used are classed as indicator, type-printing, symbol-printing, or chemical-printing telegraphs, according as the intelligence is given by the movements of a pointer or indicator, as in Cooke & Wheatstone's (the form commonly used in England), or by impressing, on a fillet of paper, letters from types, as in House's and Hughe's, or dots and marks from a sharp point moved by a magnet, as in Morse's, or symbols produced by electro-chemical action, as in Bain's. In the offices in the United States the recording instrument is now little used, the receiving operator reading by ear the combinations of long and short intervals of sound produced by the armature of an electro-magnet as it is put in motion by the opening and breaking of the circuit, which motion, in registering instruments, traces upon a ribbon of paper the lines and dots used to represent the letters of the alphabet. See Illustration in Appendix, and Morse code. [ 1913 Webster ]

In 1837, Samuel F. B. Morse, an American artist, devised a working electric telegraph, based on a rough knowledge of electrical circuits, electromagnetic induction coils, and a scheme to encode alphabetic letters. He and his collaborators and backers campaigned for years before persuading the federal government to fund a demonstration. Finally, on May 24, 1844, they sent the first official long-distance telegraphic message in Morse code, "What hath God wrought," through a copper wire strung between Washington, D.C., to Baltimore, Maryland. The phrase was taken from the Bible, Numbers 23:23. It had been suggested to Morse by Annie Ellworth, the young daughter of a friend. Library of Congress, American Memories series (http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/may24.html). [ PJC ]

Acoustic telegraph. See under Acoustic. --
Dial telegraph, a telegraph in which letters of the alphabet and numbers or other symbols are placed upon the border of a circular dial plate at each station, the apparatus being so arranged that the needle or index of the dial at the receiving station accurately copies the movements of that at the sending station. --
Electric telegraph, or
Electro-magnetic telegraph, a telegraph in which an operator at one station causes words or signs to be made at another by means of a current of electricity, generated by a battery and transmitted over an intervening wire. --
Facsimile telegraph. See under Facsimile. --
Indicator telegraph. See under Indicator. --
Pan-telegraph, an electric telegraph by means of which a drawing or writing, as an autographic message, may be exactly reproduced at a distant station. --
Printing telegraph, an electric telegraph which automatically prints the message as it is received at a distant station, in letters, not signs. --
Signal telegraph, a telegraph in which preconcerted signals, made by a machine, or otherwise, at one station, are seen or heard and interpreted at another; a semaphore. --
Submarine telegraph cable, a telegraph cable laid under water to connect stations separated by a body of water. --
Telegraph cable, a telegraphic cable consisting of several conducting wires, inclosed by an insulating and protecting material, so as to bring the wires into compact compass for use on poles, or to form a strong cable impervious to water, to be laid under ground, as in a town or city, or under water, as in the ocean. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Telegraphed p. pr. & vb. n. Telegraphing ] [ F. télégraphier. ] To convey or announce by telegraph. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who sends telegraphic messages; a telegraphic operator; a telegraphist. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. language characterized by terseness and ellipsis as in telegrams. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. [ Cf. F. télégraphique. ] 1. Of or pertaining to the telegraph; made or communicated by a telegraph; as, telegraphic signals; telegraphic art; telegraphic intelligence. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Having only the essential information; brief; concise; terse; -- of communications, by analogy with the style of telegrams, which are short to avoid unnecessary expense. a telegraphic communication should have enough information to allow comprehension of the content, though it may leave out normally included words. If so much is left out that the communication becomes difficult or impossible to understand, it may be called cryptic. “Sighted sub. Sank same.” is a telegraphic message. [ PJC ]

a. Telegraphic. -- Tel`e*graph"ic*al*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

n. One skilled in telegraphy; a telegrapher. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. th^le far + -graph + &unr_; sound. ] An instrument for recording and reproducing sound by local magnetization of a steel wire, disk, or ribbon, moved against the pole of a magnet connected electrically with a telephone receiver, or the like. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ Gr. th^le far + -graph + -scope. ] An instrument for telegraphically transmitting a picture and reproducing its image as a positive or negative. The transmitter includes a camera obscura and a row of minute selenium cells. The receiver includes an oscillograph, relay, equilibrator, and an induction coil the sparks from which perforate a paper with tiny holes that form the image. It is now (1999) obsolete, having been replaced by telefax and internet transmission of images. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC ]

(Bot.), A tick trefoil (Meibomia gyrans formerly Desmodium gyrans), native of the East Indies; it is a leguminous plant whose lateral leaflets jerk up and down like the arms of a semaphore, and also rotate on their axes. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]