# What do you call....

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call/82405>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 18, 2001, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call/82405 "2001-09-18T16:24:16Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\
**Post date:** [September 18, 2001, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call/82405/1 "2001-09-18T16:24:16Z")

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I just know there must be a word for this, but it escapes me. I’m hoping the very clever teeming millions can help me with this.  
That fancy thing on maps that tell you this way is north, south, etc.

You know, it’s ornate and beautiful.

I need to find an escpecially lovely one for a project I have. I have a few I sort of like, but would love to search for more, but what to look under for a search?

What’s it called?

Anybody know a link to any really pretty ones?  
Thanks for you help…

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**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\
**Post date:** [September 18, 2001, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call/82405/2 "2001-09-18T16:26:41Z")

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Compass rose

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**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\
**Post date:** [September 18, 2001, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call/82405/3 "2001-09-18T20:54:39Z")

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Thank you very, very much!