Sextant

Quick meaning: Sextant is a noun meaning (nautical) A navigational device for deriving angular distances between objects so as to determine latitude and longitude.

Meaning

(nautical) A navigational device for deriving angular distances between objects so as to determine latitude and longitude.

More Meanings

1. (geometry) One sixth of a circle or disc; a sector with an angle of 60°.
2. (dentistry) One of six groups of adjacent teeth, excluding the wisdom teeth.
3. (botany) A radial cell division of segments in three series, a sixth part of the original.

Example Sentences

I took our position every morning with my crude sextant; but the results were always most unsatisfactory.

Moskowitz and Devereux have designed a hyperaccurate sextant for interstellar navigation based upon the design of the sextant used by the Apollo astronauts.

[…] I can do more with a Quadrant, Sextant or Octant, of 1 foot Radius, furniſhed with Teleſcopical Sights and Screws, then ^([sic]) can poſſibly be done with any other Inſtrument, furniſhed only with Common Sights, though 10, 20, 30, nay threeſcore foot Radius; […]

Word Forms

• sextants

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include periscopic, octant, alidade, quadrant, nonant, departure.

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