'Cross-staff' definitions:

Definition of 'Cross-staff'

From: GCIDE
  • Cross-staff \Cross"-staff`\ (-st?f`), n.
  • 1. An instrument formerly used at sea for taking the altitudes of celestial bodies. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. A surveyor's instrument for measuring offsets. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'cross-staff'

From: GCIDE
  • Forestaff \Fore"staff`\, n. (Naut.) An instrument formerly used at sea for taking the altitudes of heavenly bodies, now superseded by the sextant; -- called also cross-staff. --Brande & C. [1913 Webster]