sagitta

noun sa·git·ta \ səˈjitə \

Definition of sagitta

1 plural -s : the distance from the midpoint of an arc to the midpoint of its chord

2 -s : the larger of the two large otoliths found in the ear of most fishes

3 a Sagitta : a genus of planktonic marine animals (phylum Chaetognatha) including the largest arrow worms

b plural sagittas\-təz\ or sagittae\-tˌē\ : any arrowworm of the genus Sagitta

There's more!

Love words? You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
Advanced search features
Ad free!

Origin and Etymology of sagitta

New Latin, from Latin, arrow, probably of non-Indo-European origin

Sagitta

noun Sa·git·ta \ sə-ˈji-tə \

Definition of Sagitta

astronomy

: a small northern constellation that is visible between the constellations of Aquila and Vulpecula and that is represented by the figure of an arrow

Sagitta is an interesting constellation to see in the early evening. It's a small compact group in a beautiful field of double stars. In mythology, Sagitta represents an arrow shot by the hero Hercules.
—Arnold Pearlstein, Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, Florida), 21 Aug. 1994