Trends ofastrolabe
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astrolabe in British English
(ˈæstrəˌleɪb)
noun
an instrument used by early astronomers to measure the altitude of stars and planets and also as a navigational aid. It consists of a graduated circular disc with a movable sighting device
Compare sextantWord origin
C13: via Old French and Medieval Latin from Greek, from astrolabos (adj), literally: star-taking, from astron star + lambanein to takeastrolabe in American English
(ˈæstroʊˌleɪb; ˈæstrəˌleɪb)
noun
an instrument formerly used to find the altitude of a star, etc.: it was replaced by the sextant
Word origin
ME astrelabie < OFr astrelabe < ML astrolabium < Gr astrolabon < astron, star + lambanein, to take: see latchImage ofastrolabe
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