There is one meaning in OED's entry for the noun zenith sweep. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definition, usage, and quotation evidence.
Earliest known use
late 1700s
The earliest known use of the noun zenith sweep is in the late 1700s.
OED's earliest evidence for zenith sweep is from 1790, in Philosophical Transactions.
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 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–
- Zennist, adj. & n.1904–
1790–
A linear series of observations of a region of the sky passing through the zenith (cf.
sweep n. I.7).
1790
My twenty-feet speculum was so much tarnished by zenith sweeps, in which it had been..exposed to falling dews.
Philosophical Transactions (Royal Society) vol. 80 10
1976
Even zenith sweeps could be made, but Herschel had to arrange a weight to work against the great motion rope.
Journal Hist. Astronomy vol. 7 88
Astronomy. A term used by Sir William Herschel to denote a method of surveying the heavens in sections (see quots. and cf. sweep, v. II.21)…
The action of sweep, v. Astronomy: see sweep, v. II.21.
A linear series of observations of a region of the sky passing through the zenith (cf. sweep, n. I.7).
Originally published as part of the entry for zenith, n. & adj.
zenith, n. & adj. was revised in June 2018.
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