Flinders bar

noun

Navigation.

1. a bar of soft iron, mounted vertically beneath a compass to compensate for vertical magnetic currents.

Flinders bar

/ ˈflɪndəz /

noun

1. nautical a bar of soft iron mounted on a binnacle to compensate for local magnetism causing error to the compass

Word History and Origins

Origin of Flinders bar¹

First recorded in 1880–85; named after M. Flinders

Word History and Origins

Origin of Flinders bar¹

C19: named after Matthew Flinders (died 1814), English navigator

Example Sentences

This bar, now known as a “Flinders bar,” is still in general use.

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He took a keen personal interest in them; and the result was his invention of the Flinders' bar, which is now used in every properly equipped ship in the world.

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Then, back at the binnacle, he unscrewed the brass caps of the cylindrical brass tube which housed the Flinders bar, removed that also, replaced the caps, and consigned the bar to the sea in its turn.

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