# Kamal

/ˈkeɪməɫ/ (US) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/kamal
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

an old tool used by sailors to find their way at sea by looking at the stars. It uses a small wooden board and a piece of string to measure how high a star is above the water.

For teachers: a celestial navigation instrument used by early Arab and Indian sailors to determine latitude. It consists of a small rectangular wooden card and a knotted string used to measure the altitude of Polaris or other stars above the horizon.

## Examples

- The sailor used a kamal to find his way across the ocean.
- Historians believe the kamal was a precursor to more advanced tools like the sextant for measuring latitude.
- By holding the wooden card at a distance determined by knots in the string, the navigator could use the kamal to maintain a consistent latitude during long transoceanic voyages.

## Usage notes

- Typically appears in historical or maritime contexts; often associated with medieval Indian Ocean trade.

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