Dictionary

nautical mile

noun

: a unit of distance equal to 1,852 meters or 1.15 miles that is used for sea and air travel

Full Definition of NAUTICAL MILE

:  any of various units of distance used for sea and air navigation based on the length of a minute of arc of a great circle of the earth and differing because the earth is not a perfect sphere: as
a :  a British unit equal to 6080 feet (1853.2 meters)
b :  an international unit equal to exactly 1852 meters (6076.115 feet or 1.15 statute miles) used officially in the United States since July 1, 1954
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First Known Use of NAUTICAL MILE

1834

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