to box the compass

1 definition found

to box the compass - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Box \Box\, v. t. [Cf.Sp. boxar, now spelt bojar.]
     To boxhaul.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     To box off (Naut.), to turn the head of a vessel either way
        by bracing the headyards aback.
  
     To box the compass (Naut.), to name the thirty-two points
        of the compass in their order.
        [1913 Webster]