SEXTANS
, a sixth part of certain things.
The Romans divided their as, which was a pound of brass, into 12 ounces, called uncia, from unum; and the quantity of 2 ounces was called sextans, as being the 6th part of the pound.
Sextans was also a measure, which contained 2 ounces of liquor, or 2 cyathi.
Sextans, the Sextant, in Astronomy, a new constellation, placed across the equator, but on the south side of the ecliptic, and by Hevelius made up of some unformed stars, or such as were not included in any of the 48 old constellations. In Hevelius's catalogue it contains 11 stars, but in the Britannic catalogue 41.
