almucantar

[ al-myoo-kan-ter ]

noun

, Astronomy.

1. a circle on the celestial sphere parallel to the horizon; the locus of all points of a given altitude.

almucantar

/ ˌælməˈkæntə /

noun

1. a circle on the celestial sphere parallel to the horizontal plane
2. an instrument for measuring altitudes

Word History and Origins

Origin of almucantar¹

1350–1400; probably < Medieval Latin almucantarath < Arabic al-muqanṭarāt the almucantars, equivalent to al the + muquanṭarāt sundial, derivative of qanṭarah arch; replacing almicanter, Middle English almicanteras (plural) < Middle French almicantarath < Medieval Latin

Word History and Origins

Origin of almucantar¹

C14: from French, from Arabic almukantarāt sundial