binnacle

1. The wooden housing for a ship's compass, with its corrector magnets and illuminating arrangements. The log and other equipment for measuring the ship's speed are also stowed there.
2. The instrument cluster on a car or motorcycle.

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈbɪnəkəl/

Etymology

Corruption of earlier bittacle, from French habitacle. Or from obsolete Spanish or Portuguese bitácula, both from Late Latin habitāculum (“little dwelling place”). Compare modern Spanish bitácora.

Synonyms

provisions

signals

stationery

compass pedestal

Translations

abitacolo

chiesuola

θήκη

θήκη πυξίδας

πυξιδοθήκη

maître de manoeuvre

officier chargé des vivres et des fournitures

furiere

administrador de un regimiento

pusula dolabı

bitàcola

levazım subayı

Quartiermeister

Profos