Forestaff \Fore"staff`\, n. (Naut.) An instrument formerly used at sea for taking the altitudes of heavenly bodies, now superseded by the sextant; -- called also {cross-staff}. --Brande & C. [1913 Webster]
Cross-staff \Cross"-staff`\ (-st?f`), n. 1. An instrument formerly used at sea for taking the altitudes of celestial bodies. [1913 Webster] 2. A surveyor's instrument for measuring offsets. [1913 Webster]