box sextant

1 definition found

box sextant - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  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.
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     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.
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     3. (Astron.) The constellation Sextans.
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     Box sextant, a small sextant inclosed in a cylindrical case
        to make it more portable.
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