binnacle

noun

bin·​na·​cle ˈbi-ni-kəl 

1

: a housing for a ship's compass and a lamp

2

: a container for instruments in an automobile dashboard

All but the shortest drivers find unrestricted sightlines to a hooded instrument binnacle loaded with nicely legible gauges.

—Daniel Charles Ross

Examples of binnacle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The dash is quite low in these cars, but the steering wheel’s position tends to impede line-of-sight to the binnacle. — Adam Ismail, The Drive, 18 Feb. 2026

Behind the steering wheel is the binnacle, the console where the odometer, speedometer, and other indicators are placed. — Jeremy White, Wired News, 9 Feb. 2026

As for the steering wheel and binnacle, the latter is attached to the steering column to effortlessly match wheel positioning. — Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 25 May 2026

In place of the separate infotainment screen, the instrument binnacle has been integrated into the display in a sleek statement piece. — Trinity Francis, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

alteration of Middle English bitakle, from Old Portuguese or Old Spanish; Old Portuguese bitácola & Old Spanish bitácula, from Latin habitaculum dwelling place, from habitare to inhabit — more at habitation

First Known Use

1622, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for binnacle

• clinical
• cynical
• pinnacle
• nonclinical
• preclinical
• rabbinical
• subclinical

Kids Definition

binnacle

noun

bin·​na·​cle ˈbin-i-kəl 

: a box or stand containing a ship's compass and a lamp