Definition
The pivoting frame inside an attitude indicator that allows the gyro assembly to tilt freely around the lateral (pitch) axis, so the instrument can sense and display the aircraft's nose-up or nose-down attitude relative to the horizon.
Plain English
A ring inside the attitude indicator that lets the spinning gyro tilt up and down freely, so the instrument can show whether the nose is pointing above or below the horizon.
Context Anchor
Seen in diagrams and explanations of the attitude indicator, especially when learning how the instrument uses a gyro to show pitch and bank.
Derivation
Gimbal' comes from the Old French 'gemel,' meaning 'twin' or 'paired ring.' Gimbals are pivoting rings that allow an object mounted inside them to stay level or move freely while the outer structure rotates around it. 'Pitch' here refers to the aircraft's nose-up/nose-down motion, so the pitch gimbal is the ring that handles that specific axis of movement.
Why Pilots Care
Understanding that the attitude indicator relies on a freely pivoting gyro inside nested gimbals helps explain why the instrument can briefly show errors during steep maneuvers or after unusual attitudes -- the gimbals have physical limits.
Analogy
Think of a phone holder that can tilt forward and backward while still holding the phone. The pitch gimbal is like that tilting support, but inside the attitude indicator and built around the gyro reference.
Intuition Check
Do not read pitch here as sound or as throwing something. In this context, pitch means the airplane’s nose moving up or down.
Example Sentence 1
The pitch gimbal allows the gyro to remain level with the horizon while the aircraft's nose rises or falls.
Example Sentence 2
If the pitch gimbal sticks, the attitude indicator will give incorrect climb or descent indications.