Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition

Cross-staff

Cross′-staffˊ

(-st?fˊ)

,

Noun.

1.

An instrument formerly used at sea for taking the altitudes of celestial bodies.

2.

A surveyor’s instrument for measuring offsets.

Webster 1828 Edition

Cross-staff

CROSS-STAFF

,

Noun.

An instrument to take the altitude of the sun or stars.

Definition 2024

cross-staff

cross-staff

English

Noun

cross-staff ‎(plural cross-staffs)

(nautical) An early navigational instrument, consisting of a wooden rod with a sliding crosspiece, used for measuring the altitude of a star; it developed into the sextant
A surveyor's instrument for measuring offsets.