Thanks, Faldage. What's IE, please?
I knew that "squashed circle" and ellipse were not good examples, but at the time I couldn't think of a better way to say it in short form as relating to a fixed reference point on the earth. I esp. didn't like squashed, as to me that would imply an irregular line. 'Tis more like an arc of a circle, there, rather than 50%.