binnacle

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a fixed housing for a ship's compass, often fitted with a light and correcting magnets

   The helmsman checked the compass mounted in the binnacle.

2. 2
   noun

   a housing or panel containing instruments in a car or motorcycle

   The motorcycle's digital speed display sits in a compact binnacle.

An alteration of earlier bittacle, ultimately from Latin habitaculum, 'little dwelling or housing,' through Romance nautical forms. The initial syllable was probably reshaped under the influence of bin, giving binnacle its modern spelling.

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