almucantar

1 definition found

almucantar - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Almucantar \Al`mu*can"tar\, n. [F. almucantarat, almicantarat,
     ultimately fr. Ar. al-muqantar[=a]t, pl., fr. qantara to
     bend, arch.] (Astron.)
     A small circle of the sphere parallel to the horizon; a
     circle or parallel of altitude. Two stars which have the same
     almucantar have the same altitude. See Almacantar.
     [Archaic]
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Almucanter staff, an ancient instrument, having an arc of
        fifteen degrees, formerly used at sea to take observations
        of the sun's amplitude at the time of its rising or
        setting, to find the variation of the compass.
        [1913 Webster]