octant
pronunciation
How to pronounce octant in British English:
UK ['ɒktənt]
How to pronounce octant in American English:
US ['ɒktənt]
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- Noun:
- a measuring instrument for measuring angles to a celestial body; similar to a sextant but with 45 degree calibration
Word Origin
- octant (n.)
- instrument for making angular measurements in navigation or astronomy, 1731, from Late Latin octans "the eighth part," from octo "eight" (see octa-) on analogy of quadrant. In geometry, octant meant "the eighth part of a circle."