zenith sun, n.

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

# zenith sunnoun

## Factsheet

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

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

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 sun, n.1658–
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. 1658–
   See zenith n. & adj. Compounds.
   1. 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
   2. 1826

      > Deep-hued flowers that light Their tints at zenith suns.

      N. T. Carrington, Dartmoor 3
   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
   4. 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.