almucantar

Meanings

1. A small circle on the celestial sphere, parallel to the horizon, that is used in astronomy and navigation to show altitude of a star or any other heavenly body.
2. An instrument for observing the heavenly bodies as they cross such a circle.

Etymology

From Middle English almicanteras, French almicantarat, almucantarat, from Medieval Latin almicantarath, almucantarath, from Arabic المقنطرات (almuqanṭarāt, “circles of celestial latitude”), from قَنْطَرَة (qanṭara, “arch”).