Edit page | Page history | Printable version

rhumb

(Science: 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.