eccentric equator

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Equant \E"quant\, n. [L. aequans, -antis, p. pr. of aequare: cf.
   F. ['e]quant. See {Equate}.] (Ptolemaic Astron.)
   A circle around whose circumference a planet or the center of
   ann epicycle was conceived to move uniformly; -- called also
   {eccentric equator}.
   [1913 Webster]