Associations to the word «Sextant»

Wiktionary

SEXTANT, noun. (nautical) A navigational device for deriving angular distances between objects so as to determine latitude and longitude.
SEXTANT, noun. (geometry) One sixth of a circle or disc; a sector with an angle of 60°.
SEXTANT, proper noun. (astronomy) The constellation Sextans.

Dictionary definition

SEXTANT, noun. A unit of angular distance equal to 60 degrees.
SEXTANT, noun. A measuring instrument for measuring the angular distance between celestial objects; resembles an octant.

Wise words

Words are always getting conventionalized to some secondary meaning. It is one of the works of poetry to take the truants in custody and bring them back to their right senses.
William Butler Yeats