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binnacle

device
Also known as: bittacle

Quick Summary

A binnacle is a housing that contains a ship's compass and a lamp. It can also refer to a container for instruments on an automobile dashboard. In maritime use, the binnacle is a cylindrical pedestal where the compass is mounted and illuminated, often from below. It also houses various correctors, such as magnets and soft iron spheres, to minimize deviations in the compass caused by the ship's magnetism. Some binnacles can project an image of the compass card onto a screen below, allowing the helmsman to see it without being directly at the compass.12

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