adjective

• 1Nautical
  rare, historical Relating to or designating a navigational course in which a ship follows a rhumb line, i.e., a course which cuts meridians at a constant angle (other than a right angle). Chiefly in "paradoxal compass" noun a projection on which such a course could be plotted, and on which it would appear as part of a spiral curve.

• 2 rare Generally. Paradoxical.