mariner's compass

noun

: a compass used in navigation that consists of parallel magnetic needles or bundles of needles permanently attached to a card marked to indicate direction and degrees of a circle

Word History

First Known Use

1594, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mariner's compass was in 1594

Dictionary Entries Near mariner's compass

Cite this Entry

“Mariner's compass.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mariner%27s%20compass. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!