quintant

American  

[kwin-tnt] / ˈkwɪn tnt /

noun

Navigation.

1. a sextant having an arc equal to one fifth of a circle.

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Etymology

Origin of quintant

1675–85; quint- (< Latin quīntus fifth ) + -ant (as in quadrant )

Example Sentences

An instrument used instead of a sextant, quintant, or quadrant; but the quintant embraces as much—viz.

From The Sailor's Word-Book An Alphabetical Digest of Nautical Terms, including Some More Especially Military and Scientific, but Useful to Seamen; as well as Archaisms of Early Voyagers, etc. by Belcher, Edward, Sir

The flat bar which carries the nonius scale and index-glass of a quadrant, octant, quintant, or sextant.

From The Sailor's Word-Book An Alphabetical Digest of Nautical Terms, including Some More Especially Military and Scientific, but Useful to Seamen; as well as Archaisms of Early Voyagers, etc. by Belcher, Edward, Sir

My quintant was first wrested from my coxswain, who in a tone of grief made me known the circumstance.

From The Bushman — Life in a New Country by Landor, Edward Wilson