To box the compass

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

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]