Sex"tant (?), n. [L. sextans, -antis, the sixth part of an as, fr. sextus sixth, sex six. See Six.] 1. (Math.) The sixth part of a circle.

2. An instrument for measuring angular distances between objects, -- used esp. at sea, for ascertaining the latitude and longitude. It is constructed on the same optical principle as Hadley's quadrant, but usually of metal, with a nicer graduation, telescopic sight, and its arc the sixth, and sometimes the third, part of a circle. See Quadrant.

3. (Astron.) The constellation Sextans.

Sex"tant (?), n. [L. sextans, -antis, the sixth part of an as, fr. sextus sixth, sex six. See Six.] 1. (Math.) The sixth part of a circle.

2. An instrument for measuring angular distances between objects, -- used esp. at sea, for ascertaining the latitude and longitude. It is constructed on the same optical principle as Hadley's quadrant, but usually of metal, with a nicer graduation, telescopic sight, and its arc the sixth, and sometimes the third, part of a circle. See Quadrant.

3. (Astron.) The constellation Sextans.

• A navigational device for deriving angular distances between objects so as to determine latitude and longitude.
  
• A sixth of a circle.