Calibrated wooden rod with sliding crosspiece used for measuring the altitude of celestial bodies or the height of distant objects.
Synonyms
Examples for "cross-staff"
Examples for "cross-staff"
1
Boy, bring up my cross-staff, and be mindful that you do not strike it against anything as you come up.
2
A man upon the frame-work controls this wheel, guided by a sight on the frame, and a cross-staff at the end of the field.
3
No doubt the cross-staff is a very primitive contrivance, but when handled by one so skilful as Tycho it afforded results of considerable accuracy.
4
Got Gordon to make a dozen cross-staffs and started for it to take levels.
1
The jibs, the brigantine, the fore-staff, and the stay-sails are easily managed.
2
Behind, the perimeter of the horizon was broken to their eyes, only by the mainmast, carrying brigantine and fore-staff.
3
The question now was to get under full sail, and, to complete the sails, to hoist the top-sails, the royal, the fore-staff, and the stay-sails.
1
The bear again disappeared, taking the Jacob's staff, and appeared no more that night.
2
7 And in his hand a Jacob's staff, to stay