Adjacent Words

Sextant definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

SEX'TANT, n. [L. sextans, a sixth. the Romans divided the as into 12 ounces; a sixth, or two ounces, was the sextans.]
1. In mathematics, the sixth part of a circle. Hence,
2. An instrument formed like a quadrant, excepting that its limb comprehends only 60 degrees, or the sixth part of a circle.
3. In astronomy, a constellation of the southern hemisphere which, according to the British catalogue, contains 41 stars.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
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

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: New Latin sextant-, sextans sixth part of a circle, from Latin, sixth part, from sextus sixth Date: 1628 an instrument for measuring angular distances used especially in navigation to observe altitudes of celestial bodies (as in ascertaining latitude and longitude)

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. an instrument with a graduated arc of 60(0) used in navigation and surveying for measuring the angular distance of objects by means of mirrors. Etymology: L sextans -ntis sixth part f. sextus sixth

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

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. 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. 3. (Astron.) The constellation Sextans. Box sextant, a small sextant inclosed in a cylindrical case to make it more portable.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(sextants) A sextant is an instrument used for measuring angles, for example between the sun and the horizon, so that the position of a ship or aeroplane can be calculated. N-COUNT

Moby Thesaurus

astrolabe, astronavigation, azimuth circle, azimuth compass, bevel, bevel protractor, bevel square, celestial navigation, chronometer, clinometer, coastwise navigation, consolan, crescent, dead reckoning, fix, goniometer, graphometer, half circle, hemicycle, line of position, loran, pantometer, pilotage, plane sailing, point-to-point navigation, protractor, quadrant, radar, radio beacon, radio navigation, radiogoniometer, sector, semicircle, shoran, sofar, sonar, tables, theodolite, transit, transit circle, transit instrument, transit theodolite