box the compass Definition

box¹
noun boxes

1. A container made from wood, cardboard or plastic, etc, usually square or rectangular and with a lid.

Thesaurus: crate, carton, case, coffer, trunk.
2. A boxful.
3a. A small enclosed area, shelter or kiosk, etc for a specified purpose;

Example: telephone box
Example: sentry box
Example: witness box
3b. In a theatre, etc: a separate compartment for a group of people, containing several seats;
3c. An enclosed area for a horse in a stable or vehicle.

Form: horse-box (often)
(Brit)
colloq
Form: the box
5a. An area in a field, pitch, road, printed page, etc marked out by straight lines. ) the television;
5b. football.
The penalty box.
6. An individually allocated pigeonhole or similar container at a newspaper office or other agency, in which mail is collected to be sent on to, or collected by, the person it is intended for. See also PO box.

Example: Reply to box number 318
7. A case or housing for protecting machinery, etc.

Example: gearbox
8. cricket, etc.
A lightweight padded shield to protect the genitals.
9. A gift of money given to tradesmen and (formerly) servants.

Example: a Christmas box
10. A small country house or lodge, used as a base for some sports, eg a shooting-box.
11. A raised seat for the driver on a carriage.

verb boxes, boxed, boxing

1. To put it into a box or boxes

Thesaurus: pack, package, crate, confine, encase.
Form: box something up (also)
2. To stop them or it from moving about; to confine or enclose them or it.

Form: box someone or something in (especially)
Form: box someone or something up
(Austral, NZ)
3a. To mix up (different flocks of sheep) accidentally;

Form: box something up (also)
(Austral, NZ)
3b. colloq
To make a mess or muddle of it.
Form: box something up (also)
4. To fit or provide it with a box or boxes.

Form: box something up (also)

Derivative: boxed
adj

Contained in or provided with a box.

Derivative: boxlike
adj

Idiom: box the compass

To name all the 32 points of the compass in their correct order.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon: from Latin buxis, from Greek pyxis.