A
kaleidoscope is a cylinder with
mirrors containing loose, colored objects such as
beads or
pebbles and bits of glass. As the viewer looks into one end,
light entering the other end creates a colorful pattern, due to the
reflection of the mirrors. Coined in 1817 by Scottish inventor
Sir David Brewster, "kaleidoscope" is derived from the
Ancient Greek (
kalos), "beautiful, beauty", (
eidos), "that which is seen: form, shape" and (
skopeo), "to look to, to examine", hence "observation of beautiful forms."