2 definitions found
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
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.
From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]:
sextant
n 1: a unit of angular distance equal to 60 degrees
2: an instrument for measuring the angular distance between
celestial objects; resembles an octant
more about sextant
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