Kraadminutsekundite

Kraadminutsekundite is a neologistic term formed from the Estonian roots kraad (degree), minut (minute), and sekund (second). It appears in some discussions of angular measurement and in fictional or linguistic contexts, but it is not an officially recognized unit in metrology, astronomy, or geodesy.

The exact meaning of kraadminutsekundite varies by author. In some usages it is treated as a compact representation for an angular quantity expressed in the degree–minute–second (DMS) system, while in others it is equated with the arcsecond, the standard unit equal to 1/3600 of a degree. Because there is no standardized definition, the term can function either as a shorthand for the three-part DMS notation or as a placeholder for a single, arcsecond-like unit in speculative texts.

Relation to standard units is straightforward when interpreted as an arcsecond: 1 kraadminutsekund equals 1 arcsecond, which is 1/3600 of a degree. In general practice, angles are described either in degrees, minutes, seconds or in decimal degrees, with the standard conversions: 1 degree = 60 arcminutes, 1 arcminute = 60 arcseconds, and 1 degree = 3600 arcseconds.

Usage of kraadminutsekundite is limited and informal. It is sometimes used in speculative fiction, philological discussions, or wordplay to explore how languages encode angular measures. It does not have an official symbol or universally accepted conversion beyond the interpretations described above.

See also: degree, minute, second, arcminute, arcsecond, DMS notation.