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Webster 1913 Edition

Nocturnal

Noc-tur′nal

,
Adj.
[L.
nocturnalis
,
nocturnus
, fr.
nox
,
noctis
, night. See
Night
, and cf.
Nocturn
.]
1.
Of, pertaining to, done or occuring in, the night;
as,
nocturnal
darkness, cries, expedition, etc.
; – opposed to
diurnal
.
Dryden.

Noc-tur′nal

,
Noun.
An instrument formerly used for taking the altitude of the stars, etc., at sea.
I. Watts.

Webster 1828 Edition

Nocturnal

NOCTURN'AL

,
Adj.
[L. night.]
1.
Pertaining to night; as nocturnal darkness.
2.
Done or happening at night; as a nocturnal expedition or assault; a nocturnal visit.
3.
Nightly; done or being every night.
From gilded roofs depending lamps display nocturnal beams, that emulate the day.

NOCTURN'AL

,
Noun.
An instrument, chiefly used at sea to take the altitude of stars about the pole, in order to ascertain the latitude. This may be a hemisphere, or a planisphere on the plane of the equinoctial.

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