Lexic.us

Definition of Sextant

1. Noun. A unit of angular distance equal to 60 degrees.

2. Noun. A measuring instrument for measuring the angular distance between celestial objects; resembles an octant.

Definition of Sextant

1. n. The sixth part of a circle.

Definition of Sextant

1. Noun. (nautical) A navigational device for deriving angular distances between objects so as to determine latitude and longitude. ¹

2. Noun. (geometry) One sixth of a circle or disc; a sector with an angle of 60°. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Sextant

1. an instrument for measuring angular distances [n -S]

Medical Definition of Sextant

1. 1. The sixth part of a circle. 2. An instrument for measuring angular distances between objects, used especially. 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. The constellation Sextans. Box sextant, a small sextant inclosed in a cylindrical case to make it more portable. Origin: L. Sextans, -antis, the sixth part of an as, fr. Sextus sixth, sex six. See Six. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Literary usage of Sextant

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The Principles and Practice of Surveying by Charles Blaney Breed, George Leonard Hosmer (1908)
"The reflecting circle is an instrument similar to a sextant but having a full ... To measure an angle with the sextant, hold the instrument by its handle in ..."

2. The Principles and Practice of Surveying by Charles Blaney Breed, George Leonard Hosmer (1908)
"The reflecting circle is an instrument similar to a sextant but having a full ... To measure an angle with the sextant, hold the instrument by its handle in ..."

3. Proceedings by Royal Geographical Society (Great Britain), Norton Shaw, Francis Galton, William Spottiswoode, Clements Robert Markham, Henry Walter Bates, John Scott Keltie (1872)
"I now turned the lantern towards me, changed hands with the sextant, ... For lunars, I took time with my second sextant before beginning ; also two or three ..."

4. Encyclopaedia Britannica: A Standard Work of Reference in Art, Literature (1907)
"Quite independently of Hadley and Newton the sextant was invented by Thomas Godfrey, a poor glazier in Philadelphia. In May, 1732, Mr. . ..."

5. A Manual of Spherical and Practical Astronomy: Embracing the General by William Chauvenet (1874)
"This glass is generally set perpendicular to the plane of the sextant by the ... I shall first treat of those common adjustments of the sextant \vhich the ..."

6. A Manual of Spherical and Practical Astronomy: Embracing the General by William Chauvenet (1891)
"I shall first treat of those common adjustments of the sextant which the observer is obliged to attend to in the ordinary use nf the instrument, ..."

7. The Book of Humorous Verse by Carolyn Wells (1920)
"But o sextant, in our church its scarce as piety, scarce as bank bills wen ... Wat I give aint nothin to nobody), but o sextant, u shut 500 mens wimmen and ..."

8. A Manual of Spherical and Practical Astronomy: Embracing the General by William Chauvenet (1871)
"This glass is generally set perpendicular to the plane of the sextant by the ... I shall first treat of those common adjustments of the sextant which the ..."

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