octant etymology

Etymology:

• Greek: ὀκτώ (oktō) "eight"
• Latin: octāns "eighth part"

Meaning:

• The eighth part of a circle, or 45 degrees
• A geometric figure with eight sides and eight angles

Origin:

The word "octant" originates from the Greek term ὀκτώ (oktō), meaning "eight." This reflects the fact that an octant is an eighth part of a circle. The term was adopted into Latin as octāns, which carried the same meaning.

In navigation, an octant is a device used to measure the altitude of celestial bodies, such as the sun or stars. It was invented in the 18th century as a smaller and more portable alternative to the quadrant, which had been used for the same purpose.

Over time, the term "octant" has come to be used more broadly to refer to various other objects or concepts that have eight sides or angles, such as:

• A solid geometric figure with eight faces and eight corners, known as an octahedron
• A mathematical symbol used to represent the eighth part of a whole, denoted as "1/8"
• A type of knot with eight crossings, used in sailing and other applications

octant relate terms

• quadrant

  Etymology From Late Latin quadrans meaning a fourth part Ultimately derived from th

• octa

  Etymology Early Middle English from Late Latin octāvus eighth from octa eight

• eight

  Etymology Old English e a hta Proto Germanic ahtau Proto Indo European oḱtōw

• limb

  Etymology The word limb comes from the Old English word lim which originally meant

• participle

  Etymology Latin participle noun French participe noun English participle noun

• invest

  Etymology The word invest is derived from the Latin word investis which means to c

• contentment

  Etymology Old French contentement from Late Latin contēntum neuter past participle

• discipline

  Etymology Latin disciplina Meaning instruction teaching training Origin discer

• kettle

  Etymology The word kettle derives from the Old English word cetel which referred to

• higgledy piggledy

  Etymology The origin of higgledypiggledy is uncertain but there are several theories

• Buddha

  Etymology The word Buddha originates from the Sanskrit root word budh which means