sextant: Meaning and Definition of

sex•tant

Pronunciation: (sek'stunt), [key]
— n.
  1. an astronomical instrument used to determine latitude and longitude at sea by measuring angular distances, esp. the altitudes of sun, moon, and stars.
  2. (cap.)the constellation Sextans.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
See also: