Cardinal direction

A cardinal direction is one of the four principal compass directions: north, east, south, or west. These directions organize orientation and navigation around the horizon.

Compass rose: A diagram showing directions, commonly arranged around a central point. Its four main points display the cardinal directions together.
Magnetic compass: A navigation instrument whose magnetized needle aligns approximately with Earth's magnetic field. Its marked dial lets travelers identify cardinal headings in the field.
Old English: The earliest recorded form of the English language, spoken in England before about 1150. English direction names descend from words recorded in this language.
Navigation: The planning and control of movement from one place to another. Cardinal headings provide a basic framework for choosing and maintaining a course.
Horizon: The apparent boundary where the sky meets the land or sea. Cardinal directions orient positions around the horizon.
Gyrocompass: A nonmagnetic compass that uses gyroscopic motion and Earth's rotation to indicate true north. It provides a north reference without relying on magnetic north.
Proto-Germanic language: The reconstructed ancestor of the Germanic languages, spoken before their historical records begin. Several English direction words have roots in reconstructed Germanic vocabulary.
Cartography: The study and practice of making maps. Maps use cardinal directions to relate represented places to the Earth's orientation.
Geographic coordinate system: A system for specifying locations on Earth using coordinates such as latitude and longitude. It locates places through angular measurements tied to Earth’s poles and equator.
Map orientation: The arrangement of a map relative to directions on the ground. North-up map conventions make the other cardinal directions easy to infer.

Linked from 7 pages