cross-staff

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
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   of heavenly bodies, now superseded by the sextant; -- called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]
    
from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
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]
    

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