compass card

American  

noun

Navigation.

1. a circular card with magnets attached to its underside, the face divided on its rim into points of the compass, degrees clockwise from north, or both, and floating or suspended from a pivot so as to rotate freely.

---

compass card British  

noun

1. a compass in the form of a card that rotates so that "0°" or "North" points to magnetic north

---

Etymology

Origin of compass card

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

I actually prefer trying to hold a number on its screen rather than trying to keep a compass card in alignment.

From Time Magazine Archive

But they never look at the instrument board on a line run without seeing on the compass card a sharp reminder of a TWA deficiency: all its routes run east and west.

From Time Magazine Archive

"And where are you carrying the little ship to?" said I, looking at the illuminated disc of compass card that swung in the short, brass binnacle under his nose.

From A Marriage at Sea by Russell, W. Clark (William Clark)

Theodolite, about 1780, brass; horizontal circle 5 in., vertical circle 5 in., telescope 7-1/2 in., compass 3 in.; spirit level set into compass card; spirit level attached to telescope; fixed vertical circle; unsigned.

From Early American Scientific Instruments and Their Makers by Bedini, Silvio A.

The wind was very light, and had veered from northeast to south, according to the compass card.

From My Attainment of the Pole by Cook, Frederick A.