Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun An instrument formerly used for measuring the sun's altitude at sea: so called because in using it the observer turned his back to the sun.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun An instrument formerly used for taking the altitude of the heavenly bodies, but now superseded by the quadrant and sextant; -- so called because the observer turned his back to the body observed.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun nautical An early navigational instrument for measuring the altitude of the sun and hence calculating latitude

Etymologies

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Examples

  • You are already perfect in the stars and the motions of the planets; to-morrow I will instruct you in the use of the backstaff .... "

    Widdershins Oliver [pseud.] Onions 1917

Comments

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  • An instrument formerly used for taking the altitude of the heavenly bodies, superseded by the quadrant and sextant. So called because the user turned his back to the object being observed.

    April 4, 2008