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Webster 1913 Edition

Noun.

[For

bittacle

, corrupted (perh. by influence of

bin

) fr. Pg.

bitacola

binnacle, fr. L.

habitaculum

dwelling place, fr.

habitare

to dwell. See

, and cf.

(Naut.)

A case or box placed near the helmsman, containing the compass of a ship, and a light to show it at night.

Totten.

binnacle ‎(plural binnacles)

(nautical) The wooden housing for a ship's compass, with its corrector magnets and illuminating arrangements.; The log and other equipment for measuring the ship's speed are also stowed there.
The instrument cluster on a car or motorcycle.

(nautical) the wooden housing for a ship's compass