As described in the dictionaries, the compass has different meanings, mainly: A device used to determine geographic direction, usually consisting of a magnetic needle or needles horizontally mounted...
1. Nobody really knows. Many years ago there was a verb in English ; to compass. It had several meanings which included "to measure a distance". Its origin was well known, from the Latin "to measure...
A compass is an instrument for determining direction consisting essentially of a freely suspended magnetic needle that points toward the magnetic north.