Noun: sextant sek-stunt
- A measuring instrument for measuring the angular distance between celestial objects; resembles an octant
"The navigator used a sextant to determine the ship's position at sea"
- A unit of angular distance equal to 60 degrees
"The astronomer measured celestial angles in sextants"
Derived forms: sextants
Type of: angular unit, measuring device, measuring instrument, measuring system
Part of: circumference
Encyclopedia: Sextant