noun
- plural of sextant; navigational instruments used to measure the angular distances between objects, especially for determining position at sea
Usage: nautical
Examples
- The ship’s officers used sextants to determine their exact location.
- Modern GPS has largely replaced traditional sextants in navigation.
- The maritime museum displayed several antique sextants from the 18th century.
- Sailors must learn to use sextants as backup navigation tools.
- The captain checked his calculations using two different sextants.
- These brass sextants were essential for ocean voyages before satellites.