Azimuth
/ˈæz.ɪ.mʌθ/noun
The angular distance of a celestial object from a reference direction, usually north, measured along the horizon.
Did you know?Azimuth entered European astronomy through Arabic al-sumūt, plural of al-samt, meaning “the directions” or “the paths,” a reminder that navigation once depended on reading the heavens like a sacred map.
Etymological Timeline
Arabic (medieval)
Arabic
al-sumūt
“the directions; the paths”
Arabic
Arabic
al-samt
“the direction; the path; the line of travel”
Medieval Latin
Latin
azimut
“a term used in astronomical and navigational writing”
Old French
French
azimut
“azimuth; angular direction in astronomy”
16th Century
English
azimuth
“an astronomical term for direction along the horizon”
Modern English
English
azimuth
“the angular distance of a point from a reference direction, measured in the horizontal plane”