sextant

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

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

   […] 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; […].

2. 2
   noun

   a measuring instrument for measuring the angular distance between celestial objects

3. 3
   noun

   a unit of angular distance equal to 60 degrees

4. 4
   noun

   One sixth of a circle or disc; a sector with an angle of 60°.

From Latin sextāns.

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