The word "pendulum" comes from the Latin word "pendulus" which means "hanging." It was first used in English in the late 16th century to describe a weight suspended from a fixed point that swings back and forth under the influence of gravity. The word pendulum is composed of "pendere" which means "to hang" and "-ulum" which is a diminutive suffix. The pendulum was first used in the early 17th century as a timekeeping device, in which a weight suspended from a pivot regulated the movement of a clock's gear train. The swinging motion of a pendulum is regular, precise and is used for the measurement of time, as well as in scientific experiments and other applications where regular oscillation is required.