The Wordsmith Dictionary

The Wordsmith Dictionary

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

BACKSTAFF

n.[back and staff, so called from its being used with the observer's back toward the sun. ] A quadrant; an instrument for taking the sun's altitude at sea; called also, from its inventor, Davis's quadrant.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

BACKSTAFF

BACKSTAFF Back "staff `, n.

Defn: An instrument formerly used for taking the altitude of the heavenly bodies, but now superseded by the quadrant and sextant; -- so called because the observer turned his back to the body observed.

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