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 creates a colorful pattern, due to the reflection off of the mirrors. Coined in 1817 by Scottish inventor Sir David Brewster, "kaleidoscope" is derived from the Ancient Greek καλÏÏ , "beautiful, beauty",Îµá¼¶Î´Î¿Ï , "that which is seen: form, shape" and ÏκοÏÎÏ , "to look to, to examine", hence "observation of beautiful forms."