word choice - Is "Compasses" a typo?


In the Wikipedia article for Freemasonry, it gave a picture regarding the emblem of the Freemasons:


enter image description here


The caption below reads:



The Masonic Square and Compasses.
(Found with or without the letter G)



Just wondering, is "Compasses" correct? Shouldn't it be compass? I looked this up on several dictionaries, and I don't seem to find "compasses" when referring to a tool for drawing circles, only "compass". However, "compasses" makes sense, as it looks something similar to "scissors".


Should it be "compass" or "compasses"?



Answer



I think it is not a typo. I've looked up compasses in my Babylon English dictionary, and it says:



compasses
n. instrument for drawing circles and measuring, calipers.



Additionally, Oxford Dictionaries Online states there is also compasses or a pair of compasses.



compass
2) (also compasses or a pair of compasses) an instrument for drawing circles and arcs and measuring distances between points , consisting of two arms linked by a movable joint , one arm ending in a point and the other usually carrying a pencil or pen.



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