'To box the compass' definitions:

Definition of 'To box the compass'

From: GCIDE

Box \Box\, v. t. [Cf.Sp. boxar, now spelt bojar.] To boxhaul. [1913 Webster]
To box off (Naut.), to turn the head of a vessel either way by bracing the headyards aback.
To box the compass (Naut.), to name the thirty-two points of the compass in their order. [1913 Webster]