Orienteering
/ˌɔːr.i.enˈtɪə.rɪŋ/noun
A competitive activity in which participants navigate through diverse terrain using a map and compass.
Did you know?Orienteering derives from the word 'Orient', which historically referred to the East, a direction linked to enlightenment and spiritual journeys.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
oriens
“The rising, particularly of the sun; the East.”
Old French
Old French
orienter
“To determine the position of, to locate direction.”
Late 19th Century
English
orienteering
“The activity of finding one's way through unfamiliar terrain using a map.”
20th Century
English
orienteering
“Refers specifically to the sport combining navigation and racing.”
Explore more surprising origins