Bertillon
Definition
- Proper noun:
- A system of anthropometric identification: "Bertillon" refers to a method of identifying individuals based on detailed body measurements, developed by Alphonse Bertillon.
- The surname of the system's inventor: "Bertillon" also directly refers to Alphonse Bertillon, the French criminologist who created the system.
Usage
- The term "Bertillon" is used historically to discuss early forensic science techniques. It is typically used as a modifier (e.g., Bertillon system, Bertillon measurements) or as a direct reference to the person.
- Example as a reference to the system:
- Example as a reference to the person: Bertillon was a pioneer in the field of forensic identification.
Examples
Proper noun (System): The Bertillon records included measurements of the skull, feet, and forearms. Museums of criminology often display Bertillon cards with photographs and physical data.
Proper noun (Person): Bertillon served as the head of the criminal identification department of the Paris police. The work of Bertillon laid the groundwork for modern biometrics.
Advanced Usage
- "Bertillonage": This is the technical term for the practice of using the Bertillon system.
Variants and Related Words
Bertillon system (noun phrase): The specific methodology of anthropometric measurement. The Bertillon system was eventually replaced by fingerprinting.
Bertillon card (noun phrase): The physical record card containing an individual's measurements and photograph. The archive contained thousands of old Bertillon cards.
Synonyms
- Anthropometry: The scientific study of the measurements and proportions of the human body. (This is the general field; the Bertillon system is a specific application of anthropometry for identification.)
Notes on Meaning
- The primary meaning of "Bertillon" is intrinsically linked to its historical context in late 19th and early 20th-century criminology. It is not used in contemporary forensic practice but remains an important term in the history of science and law enforcement.
Noun
-
French criminologist (1853-1914)
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