sextant: [17] A sextant is etymologically an instrument based on a ‘sixth’ of a circle. Sextants measure off the angle between the horizon and a celestial body on a graduated scale that is marked on an arc equal to one sixth of a circle. They were first named at the beginning of the 17th century by the Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe, who used the term sextāns ‘sixth part’, a derivative of Latin sextus ‘sixth’ (to which English six is closely related). The anglicized version sextant is first recorded in 1628. => six
sextant (n.)
instrument for determining latitude, 1620s, from Modern Latin sextans, said to have been coined c. 1600 by Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe, from Latin sextans "a sixth," from sex "six" (see six). So called because the sextans has a graduated arc equal to a sixth part of a circle.
实用例句
1. Sextant can be used for exploration and navigation .
六分仪可用于航海和勘探中。
来自辞典例句
2. To navigate , they must fix their sextant on something concrete.
要行动, 就必须要立足于某个坚实的事物上.
来自互联网
3. Other early instruments included the sextant and the astrolabe.
另外的早期仪器还有六分仪和星盘.
来自互联网
4. Sextant once played a very important role in navigation.
六分仪曾经在航海中扮演了重要角色.
来自互联网
5. Sextant can be used for exploration and navigation.