Earliest known use
mid 1600s
The earliest known use of the noun zenith sun is in the mid 1600s.
OED's earliest evidence for zenith sun is from 1658, in the writing of E. Gee.
Nearby entries
- zenick, n.1801–1900
- zenitfer, n.1596–
- zenith, n. & adj.a1387–
- zenithal, adj.?1731–
- zenithal projection, n.1877–
- zenith-borne, adj.1865–86
- zenith distance, n.1588–
- zenith line, n.1585–
- zenith point, n.1585–
- zenith sector, n.1775–
- zenith sun, n.1658–
- zenith sweep, n.1790–
- zenith telescope, n.1803–
- zenith tube, n.1825–
- zenithward, n., adv., & adj.1655–
- zenithwards, adv.1826–
- Zenker, n.¹1872–
- Zenker, n.²1894–
- Zen-like, adj.a1908–
- Zen master, n.1907–
- Zenned-out, adj.1968–
1658–
1658
These are the heats, and flames by which men under this Viall (as by a Zenith Sun) are scorched.
E. Gee, Divine Right & Orig. Civill Magistrate Preface sig. a5
1826
Deep-hued flowers that light Their tints at zenith suns.
N. T. Carrington, Dartmoor 3
1926
A zenith sun looks down upon every point between the Venezuelan and the Paraguayan frontiers of Brazil twice in each twelvemonth.
R. Nash, Conquest of Brazil iii. 52
2014
Vertical rays of light from the zenith sun illuminate these subterranean chambers.
Latin Amer. Antiq. vol. 25 205
Originally published as part of the entry for zenith, n. & adj.
zenith, n. & adj. was revised in June 2018.
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