sextant

Noun

WordNet 3.0

Noun (2)

  1. a unit of angular distance equal to 60 degrees
  2. a measuring instrument for measuring the angular distance between celestial objects; resembles an octant
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Sextant \Sex"tant\, n. [L. sextans, -antis, the sixth part of an as, fr. sextus sixth, sex six. See Six.]

1.(Math.) The sixth part of a circle. [1913 Webster]

2.An instrument for measuring angular distances between objects, -- used esp. at sea, for ascertaining the latitude and longitude. It is constructed on the same optical principle as Hadley's quadrant, but usually of metal, with a nicer graduation, telescopic sight, and its arc the sixth, and sometimes the third, part of a circle. See Quadrant. [1913 Webster]

3.(Astron.) The constellation Sextans. [1913 Webster]

Box sextant, a small sextant inclosed in a cylindrical case to make it more portable. [1913 Webster]

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