Almucantar \Al`mu*can"tar\, n. [F. almucantarat, almicantarat,
   ultimately fr. Ar. al-muqantar[=a]t, pl., fr. qantara to
   bend, arch.] (Astron.)
   A small circle of the sphere parallel to the horizon; a
   circle or parallel of altitude. Two stars which have the same
   almucantar have the same altitude. See Almacantar.
   [Archaic]
   [1913 Webster]

   Almucanter staff, an ancient instrument, having an arc of
      fifteen degrees, formerly used at sea to take observations
      of the sun's amplitude at the time of its rising or
      setting, to find the variation of the compass.
      [1913 Webster]