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Webster 1913 Edition


Backsight

Back′sightˊ

(băk′sītˊ)
,
Noun.
[
Back
, adv. +
sight
.]
(Surv.)
The reading of the leveling staff in its unchanged position when the leveling instrument has been taken to a new position; a sight directed backwards to a station previously occupied. Cf.
Foresight
,
Noun.
, 3.

Definition 2024


backsight

backsight

English

Noun

backsight (plural backsights)

  1. The rear sight of a firearm.
  2. (surveying) A measurement or reading taken back towards a point of known elevation, used to calculate the height of the surveying instrument (theodolite, transit, total station).
  3. (surveying) A measurement of a previously shot point, used to set the angle to zero when occupying a new position.

Verb

backsight (third-person singular simple present backsights, present participle backsighting, simple past and past participle backsighted)

  1. (surveying) To shoot a backsight.

See also