sagitta

1 of 2

noun (1)

sa·​git·​ta

səˈjitə

1

plural -s : the distance from the midpoint of an arc to the midpoint of its chord

2

-s : the larger of the two large otoliths found in the ear of most fishes

3

a

Sagitta : a genus of planktonic marine animals (phylum Chaetognatha) including the largest arrow worms

b

plural sagittas

-təz

or sagittae

-tˌē

: any arrowworm of the genus Sagitta

Sagitta

2 of 2

noun (2)

Sa·​git·​ta sə-ˈji-tə 

astronomy

: a small northern constellation that is visible between the constellations of Aquila and Vulpecula and that is represented by the figure of an arrow

Sagitta is an interesting constellation to see in the early evening. It's a small compact group in a beautiful field of double stars. In mythology, Sagitta represents an arrow shot by the hero Hercules.

—Arnold Pearlstein, Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, Florida), 21 Aug. 1994

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

New Latin, from Latin, arrow, probably of non-Indo-European origin

First Known Use

Noun (2)

1675, in the meaning defined above

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