What is "rhumb line"

Rhumb \Rhumb\, n. [F. rumb, Sp. rumbo, or Pg. rumbo, rumo, probably fr. Gr. ??? a magic wheel, a whirling motion, hence applied to a point of the compass. See Rhomb.] (Navigation) A line which crosses successive meridians at a constant angle; -- called also rhumb line, and loxodromic curve. See Loxodromic.

To sail on a rhumb, to sail continuously on one course, following a rhumb line.

n. (context nautical English) A line that cuts all meridians at the same angle, the path of a vessel that maintains a constant compass direction.

n. a line on a sphere that cuts all meridians at the same angle; the path taken by a ship or plane that maintains a constant compass direction [syn: rhumb, loxodrome]

In navigation, a rhumb line, rhumb, or loxodrome is an arc crossing all meridians of longitude at the same angle, i.e. a path with constant bearing as measured relative to true or magnetic north.

A rhumb line is, together with the Great Circle Arc and an isoazimuthal, one of the three lines that can be drawn between any two points on the earth's surface.

Rhumb Line is a two-player abstract strategy board game by Martin H. Samuel, played with glass pieces on mousepad-type material, using placement and point accumulation to win. The game board and instructions have a nautical theme, based in part on the concept of the rhumb line and historic games played by sailors.

Rhumb Line II is a 50-page note pad travel version played with a blue and a yellow pen. An iPhone app version was produced in 2010.