pelorus

noun

A fixed compass card on which bearings relative to a ship’s heading are taken.

noun

Nautical, an instrument for detecting errors of the compass by the bearings of celestial objects.

noun

An instrument similar to a mariner’s compass, but without magnetic needles, and having two sight vanes by which bearings are taken, esp. such as cannot be taken by the compass.

noun

A device used to take a bearing on a distant object.