prismatic compass

American  

noun

1. a hand compass equipped with sights and prisms to permit aiming the instrument at a point and at the same time reading the compass direction of the point.

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Etymology

Origin of prismatic compass

First recorded in 1850–55

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

prismatic compass

The trouble was overcome by building snow-mounds and taking back-angles to them with the prismatic compass.

From The Home of the Blizzard Being the Story of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition, 1911-1914 by Mawson, Douglas, Sir

Officers carried revolvers, field glasses, prismatic compass, and various other extras.

From The 28th: A Record of War Service in the Australian Imperial Force, 1915-19, Vol. I Egypt, Gallipoli, Lemnos Island, Sinai Peninsula by Collett, Herbert Brayley

Shoes in themselves are not enough to hang a man, but a prismatic compass assuredly is.

From The Story of the Guides by Younghusband, G. J.

Attached to the staff of the commander as engineer and topographical officer, he had ridden at will on the flanks of the column, a single orderly his sole attendant, a prismatic compass his only instrument.

From To The Front A Sequel to Cadet Days by King, Charles

"What we really want," said my brother-in-law, "is a prismatic compass."

From Jonah and Co. by Yates, Dornford