| rhumb | <astronomy> A line which crosses successive meridians at a constant angle; called also rhumb line, and loxodromic curve. See Loxodromic. To sail on a rhumb, to sail continuously on one course, following a rhumb line. Origin: 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. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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