rhumb

2 definitions found

rhumb - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Rhumb \Rhumb\, n. [F. rumb, Sp. rumbo, or Pg. rumbo, rumo,
     probably fr. Gr. ??? a magic wheel, a whirling motion, hence
     applied to a point of the compass. See Rhomb.] (Navigation)
     A line which crosses successive meridians at a constant
     angle; -- called also rhumb line, and loxodromic curve.
     See Loxodromic.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     To sail on a rhumb, to sail continuously on one course,
        following a rhumb line.
        [1913 Webster]

rhumb - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  rhumb
      n 1: a line on a sphere that cuts all meridians at the same
           angle; the path taken by a ship or plane that maintains a
           constant compass direction [syn: rhumb line, rhumb,
           loxodrome]