flinders bar: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Low (Technical/Nautical)Technical/Professional (Nautical)
Quick answer
What does “flinders bar” mean?
A soft iron bar mounted on a compass or near a magnetic compass to compensate for vertical magnetic forces, particularly from a ship's structure.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A soft iron bar mounted on a compass or near a magnetic compass to compensate for vertical magnetic forces, particularly from a ship's structure.
A component in marine magnetic compass adjustment used to correct deviations caused by a vessel's permanent magnetism, specifically the 'C' coefficient error relating to symmetrical vertical soft iron. Named after Matthew Flinders, the British navigator who pioneered the practical system of compass correction.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage between British and American English, as it is a standardized international nautical term.
Connotations
Technical precision, historical navigation, safety at sea.
Frequency
Exclusively used within professional nautical, naval, and maritime engineering contexts. Identically rare in both dialects.
Grammar
How to Use “flinders bar” in a Sentence
The [technician] adjusted the flinders bar to correct the [compass deviation].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “flinders bar” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The compass was flinders-barred during the fitting-out.
American English
- We need to flinders-bar the new compass before sea trials.
adjective
British English
- The flinders-bar adjustment is critical for high-latitude sailing.
American English
- Check the flinders-bar position on the compass card.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical maritime studies, navigation science, and physics of magnetism.
Everyday
Never used.
Technical
Standard term in marine navigation, naval architecture, compass adjustment manuals, and ship commissioning procedures.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “flinders bar”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “flinders bar”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “flinders bar”
- Mispronouncing 'flinders' as 'fli-n-ders' /flaɪndɚz/ instead of 'fli-nders' /ˈflɪn.dɚz/. Writing 'Flinder's bar' (incorrect possessive). Using it as a general term for any metal bar.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a compound noun written as two words: 'flinders bar'.
Matthew Flinders (1774-1814) was a renowned British navigator and cartographer who circumnavigated Australia and made significant contributions to compass correction science.
Yes, it remains a standard term in marine compass adjustment, though modern integrated bridge systems may handle compensation digitally. The principle is still taught and applied.
No, it is specifically made of soft iron, which can be magnetized and demagnetized easily, allowing for precise adjustment.
A soft iron bar mounted on a compass or near a magnetic compass to compensate for vertical magnetic forces, particularly from a ship's structure.
Flinders bar is usually technical/professional (nautical) in register.
Flinders bar: in British English it is pronounced /ˈflɪn.dəz ˌbɑː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈflɪn.dɚz ˌbɑːr/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To be as useless as a flinders bar on dry land (extremely rare, potential humorous nautical metaphor for something irrelevant to the situation).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of Captain Flinders fixing the ship's FINDING direction with a BAR of iron. Flinders BAR helps you FIND your way.
Conceptual Metaphor
CORRECTION IS BALANCE (The bar balances the compass's 'reading').
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of a flinders bar?