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My co-worker here came up with an interesting question:
 
A correspondent recently greeted us as "topographers." We produce very
detailed maps (down to building level), but they do not show, systematically
or otherwise, relief. My co-worker had run into this before, and referred me
to our dictionary (Randon House Webster's College), and sure enough, "relief"
is a feature in only the third definition of topography. The primary
definition is: "the detailed mapping or charting of the features of a
relatively small area or district," a definition which suits our maps quite
nicely.
 
Now, USGS seems to use this third definition as their primary one,
differentiating between planimetric and topographic editions of maps, the
distinction being mapping without and with relief. To distinguish maps by
area covered and level of detail, they use "small-scale," "medium-scale," and
"large-scale."
 
Does anyone know the history of this apparent shift in meanings? I know I'd
feel wierd calling a town street map "topographic," but by the original
definition, that's what it is.
 
Nat Case
Hedberg Maps
White River Jct, VT