† back-staffn.
Obsolete.
A peculiar kind of quadrant formerly used in taking altitudes at sea, so called because the observer turned his back to the sun.
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society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > equipment of vessel > navigational aids > [noun] > cross-staff
Jacob's staff1559
cross-staff1594
David's staff1623
back-staff1627
fore-staff1669
radiometer1728
jackstaff1886
the world > the universe > cosmology > science of observation > astronomical instruments > measuring altitude > [noun] > quadrant or sextant > quadrant > types of
back-staff1627
sinical quadrant1669
Gunter's quadrant1679
meridian quadrant1793
1627 J. Smith Sea Gram. xv. 73 A Crosse staffe, a Backestaffe, an Astrolobe.
1696 E. Phillips New World of Words (new ed.) ; in mod. Dicts.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1885; most recently modified version published online June 2021).
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n.1627