1. (n.) The sixth part of a circle.
2. (n.) 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.
3. (n.) The constellation Sextans.
Thesaurus Entries
astrolabe, astronavigation, azimuth circle, azimuth compass, bevel, bevel protractor, bevel square, celestial navigation, chronometer, clinometer, coastwise navigation, consolan, crescent, dead reckoning, fix, goniometer, graphometer, half circle, hemicycle, line of position, loran, pantometer, pilotage, plane sailing, point-to-point navigation, protractor, quadrant, radar, radio beacon, radio navigation, radiogoniometer, sector, semicircle, shoran, sofar, sonar, tables, theodolite, transit, transit circle, transit instrument, transit theodolite
