[f. TRAVERSE sb. 12.]
1. Naut. A table from which the difference of latitude and departure corresponding to any given course and distance may be ascertained.
1669. Sturmy, Mariner’s Mag., IV. i. 141. By the Traverse-Table … you may find the Difference of Latitude and departure from the Meridian.
1706. Phillips (ed. Kersey), Traverse-Table, a Paper on which are set down the Traverses, or Various Courses of the Ship, with the Points of the Compass.
1828. J. H. Moore, Pract. Navig. (ed. 20), 178. The variation is 11° 52′ E., and must be allowed … in all courses steered, or bearings taken by the compass, before they can be put in the Traverse Table.
1839. Civil Eng. & Arch. Jrnl., II. 352/1. He also shows how his traverse tables may be applied in setting out railway curves.
1843. Penny Cycl., XXV. 169/2. The traverse table is a table of double entry, into which, going with the angle of the course and the distance run, we find in two columns the corresponding departure, and length of the side called difference of latitude.
2. On a railway: = TRAVERSER 4. U.S.
1864. Webster, Traverse-table, (Railways), a platform with one or more tracks, and arranged to move laterally on wheels, for shifting cars, etc.; a traverser.
1877. in Knight, Dict. Mech.
