sextant

(seks′tənt)

noun

an instrument used by navigators for measuring the angular distance of the sun, a star, etc. from the horizon, as in finding the position of a ship

Origin: ModL sextans (gen. sextantis), arc of a sixth part of a circle < L, a sixth part < sextus, sixth

See sextant in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

A navigational instrument containing a graduated 60-degree arc, used for measuring the altitudes of celestial bodies to determine latitude and longitude.
Sextant See Sextans.

Origin:

Origin: New Latin sextāns, sextant-

Origin: , from Latin, sixth part (so called because the instrument's arc is a sixth of a circle)

Origin: , from sextus, sixth; see s(w)eks in Indo-European roots

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