block model

See also: blockmodel

English

block model (plural block models)

(shipbuilding) A scale model of a ship to be built, showing the vessel's water line.
- 1827, "Naval Architecture", Mechanics Magazine, volume 6, page 35:
  ...the young shipwright is next desired to prepare a block model to the timbers, which, if correctly proportioned, will displace water equal to the weight of the vessel...
(shipbuilding) A simplified model of a ship with flat sides.
- 1880, A.C. Kirk, “On a Method of Analyzing the Form of Ships”, in Transactions of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects, volume 21, page 100:
  To show more clearly the relation of the block model to that of the actual ship, I have selected No. 4 in the Table...
- 1890, Henry West, “Inaugural Address”, in Transactions of the Liverpool Engineering Society, volume 11, page 15:
  No attempt in this direction has, as yet, met with the general favour which Dr. Kirk's block model analysis has secured.
(mathematics) A model of a network made by dividing it into blocks