[ ˌalmə'kantə ]
■ noun Astronomy
1》 a circle on the celestial sphere parallel to the horizon.
2》 a telescope mounted on a float resting on mercury, used to determine stellar altitude and azimuth.
Origin
ME: from med. L. ~ath or obs. Fr. ~a , from Arab. almuḳanṭarāt 'lines of celestial latitude', based on al 'the' + ḳanṭara 'arch'.