zenith star, n.

zenith-star
http://www.oed.com/dictionary/zenith-star_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_use
Revised 2018

# zenith starnoun

## Factsheet

### Where does the noun zenith star come from?

Earliest known use

late 1500s

The earliest known use of the noun zenith star is in the late 1500s.

OED's earliest evidence for zenith star is from 1589, in a translation by P. Jones.

### Nearby entries

1. zenick, n. 1801–1900
2. zenitfer, n. 1596–
3. zenith, n. & adj. a1387–
4. zenithal, adj.?1731–
5. zenithal projection, n. 1877–
6. zenith-borne, adj. 1865–86
7. zenith distance, n. 1588–
8. zenith line, n. 1585–
9. zenith point, n. 1585–
10. zenith sector, n. 1775–
11. zenith star, n.1589–
12. zenith sweep, n. 1790–
13. zenith telescope, n. 1803–
14. zenith tube, n. 1825–
15. zenithward, n., adv., & adj. 1655–
16. zenithwards, adv. 1826–
17. Zenker, n.¹ 1872–
18. Zenker, n.² 1894–
19. Zen-like, adj. a1908–
20. Zen master, n. 1907–
21. Zenned-out, adj. 1968–

## Meaning & use

1. 1589–
   See zenith n. & adj. Compounds.
   1. 1589

      > The Zenith, or Verticall starre , which is the point of the firmament directly ouer a mans head, wheresoeuer he standeth.

      P. Jones, translation of A. Meyer, Certaine Instr. Gentlemen ii. 4
   2. 1709

      > A small Prick with the Point of a small Needle, through your proper Zenith Star or Point in the Celestial Planisphere, would make a particular Impression or Mark upon the Place or City in the Terrestrial Planisphere.

      G. Keith, Geogr. & Navigation Compleated 10
   3. 1817

      > When zenith-stars were trembling on the wave.

      P. B. Shelley, Laon & Cythna vii. xx. 166
   4. 1903

      > This Trafalgar Will..Pitt exalt As zenith-star of England's firmament.

      T. Hardy, Dynasts i.v. v
   5. 2013

      > The position of any island can be fixed by identifying its zenith star.

      D. Scarr, History of Pacific Islands ii. iii. 31

Originally published as part of the entry for zenith, n. & adj.

zenith, n. & adj. was revised in June 2018.