dead reckoning

dead reckoning

n.

1. A method of estimating the position of an aircraft or a ship without astronomical observations, as by applying to a previously determined position the course and distance traveled since.

2. Predictive calculation based on inference; guesswork.

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[Possibly alteration of ded., abbr. of deduced, from deduce, to trace from the beginning; see deduce.]

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dead reckoning

n

(Mathematics & Measurements / Navigation) a method of establishing one's position using the distance and direction travelled rather than astronomical observations

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	dead reckoning - an estimate based on little or no information guessing, guesswork, guess, shot approximation, estimate, estimation, idea - an approximate calculation of quantity or degree or worth; "an estimate of what it would cost"; "a rough idea how long it would take"
	2.	dead reckoning - navigation without the aid of celestial observations navigation, pilotage, piloting - the guidance of ships or airplanes from place to place