Military Affairs (nonnaval)

The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military Further reading

cocked hat

The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea | 2006 | Copyright

cocked hat, the small triangular space usually found at the intersection of position lines on a chart when a ship's position is determined by plotting three bearings when employing celestial, coastal, or hyperbolic navigation. With perfect observation and plotting, the three position lines should intersect at a common point. When they do not, a cocked hat is formed. This indicates minor errors when fixing a ship's position, and, in general, the larger the cocked hat, the greater the error. Navigators normally take the centre of the cocked hat, when it is not large, as the ship's position. In particular circumstances they may take the position nearest to danger. There are occasions when the true position may lie outside the cocked hat. See also angle of cut.

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"cocked hat." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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cocked hat

The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military | 2001 | Copyright

cocked hat
1. a brimless triangular hat pointed at the front, back, and top.

2. a hat with a wide brim permanently turned up toward the crown, such as a tricorne.

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"cocked hat." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"cocked hat." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-cockedhat.html

"cocked hat." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-cockedhat.html

Learn more about citation styles

Free newspaper and magazine articles

	Jay's injury beats Deano's mumps into a cocked hat!(Features) Newspaper article from: The Mirror (London, England); 11/6/2009
	Chock's away as Goldophin bid to knock rivals in Cocked Hat. Newspaper article from: South Wales Echo (Cardiff, Wales); 5/19/2009
	Knocking proper science facts into a cocked hat.(News) Newspaper article from: Daily Post (Liverpool, England); 12/22/2008