BINNACLE Meaning of BINNACLE in English [ 'bɪnək(ə)l ]■ noun a built-in housing for a ship's compass.OriginC15 (as bittacle ): from Sp. bitácula , bitácora or Port. bitacola , from L. habitaculum 'dwelling place'. Concise Oxford English vocab. Сжатый оксфордский словарь английского языка. 2004