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sextant

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sextant

Main Entry:: sex·tant
Pronunciation:: \ˈseks-tənt\
Function:: noun
Etymology:: New Latin sextant-, sextans sixth part of a circle, from Latin, sixth part, from sextus sixth
Date:: 1628

: an instrument for measuring angular distances used especially in navigation to observe altitudes of celestial bodies (as in ascertaining latitude and longitude)

[sextant illustration]

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