octans

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proper noun

A small circumpolar constellation of the southern sky, said to resemble an octant. It lies closest to the southern celestial pole of any constellation.

OriginLatin octans →
Scrabble 8
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Meanings

octans1

noun
  1. pluralplural of octan

Octans2

proper noun
  1. astronomyA small circumpolar constellation of the southern sky, said to resemble an octant. It lies closest to the southern celestial pole of any constellation.

Origin

  1. Latinoctans“an octant”
  2. EnglishOctans

Named by the French astronomer Nicolas Louis de Lacaille in 1763. From Latin octans (“an octant”). Doublet of octant.

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Arabic الثُّمْن, الثُّمُن
  • الثُّمْن (aṯ-ṯumn)a circumpolar constellation
  • الثُّمُن (aṯ-ṯumun)a circumpolar constellation
Chinese Mandarin 南極座 /南极座
  • 南極座 /南极座 (Nánjízuò)a circumpolar constellation
Dutch Octant
  • Octanta circumpolar constellation
Esperanto Oktanto
  • Oktantoa circumpolar constellation
Finnish Oktantti
  • Oktanttia circumpolar constellation
French Octant
  • Octanta circumpolar constellation
German Oktant
  • Oktanta circumpolar constellation
Irish an tOchtamhán
  • an tOchtamhána circumpolar constellation
Italian Ottante
  • Ottantea circumpolar constellation
Malay Sesiku
  • Sesikua circumpolar constellation
Polish Oktant
  • Oktanta circumpolar constellation
Russian Октант
  • Октант (Oktant)a circumpolar constellation
Spanish Octans
  • Octansa circumpolar constellation

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

cantosStancoCastonNatSoc
Cite this entry
APA

octans. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/octans

MLA

“octans.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/octans. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “octans,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/octans.

Source: octans on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.