An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics
English-French-Persian

A → mural instrument used to determine stellar positions. The quadrant consisted of a wall supporting a 90° graduated arc carefully oriented to the meridian. By means of a movable arm equipped with a sight, the altitude of a star could be determined at meridian passage.

→ mural; → quadrant.

1) A quarter of a circle; an arc of 90°.
2) Any of the four parts into which a plane is divided by a pair of rectangular axes.
3) An instrument, usually containing a graduated arc of 90°, formerly used in astronomy and navigation to measure the angles and altitudes of stars. → mural quadrant.

M.E., from L. quadrantem (nominative quadrans) "fourth part."

Cârakân, from cârak + -ân. Cârak "quarter," literally "fourth, a fourth part of one," from câr, variant of cahâr, → four, cognate with L. quattuor, + -ak, contraction of yak "one," from Mid.Pers. êwak (Proto-Iranian *aiua-ka-); O.Pers. aiva- "one, alone;" Av. aēuua- "one, alone" (cf. Skt. éka- "one, alone, single;" Gk. oios "alone, lonely;" L. unus "one;" E. one); -ân nuance suffix.

An annual → meteor shower reaching a peak about 3 January and having its → radiant in the constellation → Boötes.

From L. Quadrant-, from Quadrans Muralis , → mural quadrant.