Wiktionary
boxed the compass
vb. (en-pastbox the compass)
Usage examples of "boxed the compass".
The needle jumped from pole to pole with sudden and surprising jerks, ran round, or as it is said, boxed the compass, and then ran suddenly back again as if it had the vertigo.
The needle jumped from pole to pole with sudden and surprising jerks, ran around, or as it is said, boxed the compass, and then ran suddenly back again as if it had the vertigo.