binnacle

1
[ bin-uh-kuhl ]

nounNautical.
  1. a stand or enclosure of wood or nonmagnetic metal for supporting and housing a compass.

Origin of binnacle

1
1615–25; bin + (bitt)acle (late Middle English bitakille) <Portuguese bitacola<Latin habitāculum lodge, equivalent to habitā- (see inhabit) + -culum-cule2

Words Nearby binnacle

Other definitions for binnacle (2 of 2)

binnacle2
[ bin-uh-kuhl ]

New York State Older Use.
  1. a side branch of a river; millrace.

Origin of binnacle

2
1855–60, Americanism; probably folk-etymological spelling of New York Dutch *binnekil, equivalent to Dutch binne(n) inner, interior (see ben1) + kil channel; see kill2

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use binnacle in a sentence

  • The bulwarks, boats, and binnacle were carried clean off, and the mainmast had to be cut away.

  • Ralph walked back to where Mr. Duff was standing at the binnacle, conning the ship.

    Ralph Granger's Fortunes | William Perry Brown
  • As he spoke, he drew out a letter and handed it to him; and Tony, stooping down beside the binnacle light, read it over twice.

    Tony Butler | Charles James Lever
  • He stripped up his sleeve and held his arm across the radiance of the binnacle light.

    Blow The Man Down | Holman Day
  • It was snowing by now and the flakes could be seen driving athwart the ship in the light of the skylights and the binnacle.

    The Viking Blood | Frederick William Wallace

British Dictionary definitions for binnacle

binnacle

/ (ˈbɪnəkəl) /


noun
  1. a housing for a ship's compass

Origin of binnacle

1
C17: changed from C15 bitakle, from Portuguese bitácula, from Late Latin habitāculum dwelling-place, from Latin habitāre to inhabit; spelling influenced by bin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012