portolan

English

Etymology

From French portulan and its source, Italian portolano.

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈpɔːtələn/

Noun

portolan (plural portolans)

  1. (nautical) A chart of European navigable waters based on descriptions of coasts. [from 18th c.]
    • 2012, Simon Garfield, On the Map, Profile Books 2012, p. 110:
      Portolans are as old as the European mariner's magnetic compass, and for about two centuries the two depended on each other for the growth and safe passage of Mediterranean trade.

Anagrams

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