A TIMER is a device used to measure the passage of time. The term 'hourglass or stopwatch' is often used to refer to a TIMER, which can be either an hourglass or a stopwatch. An hourglass is a device that uses sand to measure the passage of time, while a stopwatch is a device that uses a clock mechanism to measure the passage of time. Both devices are used to measure short periods of time, such as seconds or minutes.