portolan
- noun
- /ˈpɔrtəˌlɑn/
- Archaic
:
portolano
- The ancient portolan provided sailors with essential navigation details for safe voyages across the Mediterranean.
Examples
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Explorers relied on detailed portolan charts to guide them through treacherous waters during their voyages.
-
With the invention of the compass, portolan sailing directions, and accurate charts, the technique of Mediterranean sailing did not basically change.
Academic text (1993) -
The design of the maps is more functional, with less attention to aesthetics and more to geographic detail than in the late-medieval portolan maps and atlases.
Blog text (28) -
A well-preserved portolan from the 16th century reveals the navigational knowledge of sailors in that era.
Synonyms
61
3.9
A map used to plan a trip by sea or air
1
9.9
A book with sailing directions and warnings for sailors
1
6.5
A map that shows sea depths, currents, and hazards for people who steer ships
How Detailed
Surface Forms
Etymology
Portolan comes from the Italian word portolano, built on port meaning 'harbour'. A helpful image is a book of ports and directions for sailors, so a portolan is a detailed sea chart used to find coasts and harbours.