Disputatio:Pyxis nautica

Um... is there any authority for this form of the word? The OED mentions a medieval Latin compassus, but this is of the masculine gender and usually refers to a "drafting compass" (classical Latin circinus) rather than a "nautical compass."

When I have seen discussions of nautical compasses in Latin, the usual locution I've seen has been pyxis nautica. There is even a southern hemisphere constellation by this name. David Morgan cites the following additional expressions: magnetica acus nautica, capsula acûs magneticae, and most relevantly: compassus nauticus

Traupvir likes acus, too.--Ioscius ^(disp) 15:19, 16 Septembris 2007 (UTC)

In any case, I propose we move this to pyxis nauticus. Any counterarguments? --Iustinus 18:26 iul 19, 2005 (UTC)

Whereas in ancient times compasses were used by sailors only, nowadays we used them on land about as often. In fact I am unable to find a commons pick of a nautical compass. So I wonder if a more general name is needed to make it more general and so that this pic would better fit the article. How about like Pyxis magnetica sive pyxis nautica est....?--Rafaelgarcia 22:34, 13 Septembris 2007 (UTC)

For my part, I have always seen acus. Acus magnetica is my vote.--Ioscius ^(disp) 15:19, 16 Septembris 2007 (UTC)

The difference can be large-->Differentia potest esse magnam?

I am not sure of the grammar rules here. Should it be Differentia potest esse magna?--Rafaelgarcia 14:24, 16 Septembris 2007 (UTC)

Ita vero: 'magna' sine -m. --Fabullus 14:27, 16 Septembris 2007 (UTC)

Thanks--Rafaelgarcia 15:02, 16 Septembris 2007 (UTC)

But instead of differentia esse magna (which sounds rather English), the Romans favored an idiom in which the differentiating is in the verb. My dictionary offers this example: 'There is no great difference between them and the Peripatetics' = Non multum a Peripateticis dissident. In other words, conceptually, instead of great difference, we want greatly differ. IacobusAmor 15:29, 16 Septembris 2007 (UTC)

So Multum directio vera a magnetica discrepat ... yes sounds a lot better.--Rafaelgarcia 16:02, 16 Septembris 2007 (UTC)