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Glite Dictionary
lubber line

lubber line

9.9
A fixed mark on a ship's compass that shows the direction the ship is pointing
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : línea de lubber
  • The captain checked the lubber line to ensure the ship was heading in the right direction.

Examples

  • As we navigated through the fog, the lubber line helped us maintain our course.

  • Before setting sail, the crew made sure the lubber line on the compass was clearly visible.

  • We have to have a lubber line.

    Hell in the Pacific (1968)

Synonyms

lubber's line
vslubber line
  • Specialized
9.9

A fixed mark on a ship's compass that shows forward direction

is identical in meaning but written without the possessive apostrophe
lubber's mark
vslubber line
  • Specialized
9.9

A fixed line on a compass that shows the ship's direction

is the term for a straight marked line rather than a single point
lubber's point
vslubber line
  • Specialized
9.9

A fixed mark on a ship's compass that shows where the ship is going

is used for a linear marked direction rather than a small point

Surface Forms

lubber line singular
lubber lines plural

Morphology

lubber + line

Although both constituents are literal words, the compound is specialized nautical jargon: knowing 'lubber' (an inexperienced sailor) and 'line' (a mark) does not lead a B1 learner to the specific function 'fixed mark on a compass indicating heading.' The semantic relation is technical and historical rather than compositional or predictable, so the meaning cannot be reliably derived from the parts.

Etymology

Lubber line comes from a fixed line on a ship's compass that points to the ship's front; the part lubber plus line named this simple mark. Sailors used that mark to read the ship's direction, so the term means 'the fixed line on a compass that shows the ship's direction'.