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cross-staff

noun

ˈkrȯs-ˌstaf How to pronounce cross-staff (audio)
: an instrument formerly used at sea for taking the altitude of a celestial body

Examples of cross-staff in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Divers also recovered an ebony cross-staff, or an instrument used for navigation and latitude on Dutch ships. — Ashley Strickland, CNN, 17 Feb. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1582, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cross-staff was in 1582

Rhymes for cross-staff

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Browse Nearby Words

cross springer
cross-staff
cross-stitch
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Cite this Entry

“Cross-staff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cross-staff. Accessed 30 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on cross-staff

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cross-staff

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