# | Originally uploaded by mag3737.
The odd name for this ancient sign for numbering derives from thorpe, the Old Norse word for a village or farm that is often seen in British placenames. The symbol was originally used in mapmaking, representing a village surrounded by eight fields, so it was named the octothorp.
Courtesy of Neatorama, via Boing Boing.
Knowing it's called an Octothorp, in addition to just plain old "pound sign", has gotta be worth about ten points right off the bat.
5 comments:
I love you.
That's gonna be worth something on Jeopardy someday!
This is why I read your blog every day:
You post a lot.
You're much smarter than me. I mean I. Much smarter than I. Am. I don't always know what you're talking about, but I like it.
Octothorpe. I'm going to find an excuse to whip that out on Big Brother at the family gathering this weekend. If I find out you made that up, I'm going to give you such dirty looks through my monitor...
I think you should start making things up now that i, rodius has brought it up. That way we'll be on our toes.
100 points at least for that one.
never! which is why I cite my sources -- loss of credibility is death to blogging. ;)
and lol on the comments, guys -- thanks. what a great way to start the weekend.
have a good one!
That's fantastic! I didn't know that. I'm still in love with the word ampersand, but this one is a strong contender. Anyway, new additions to the sesquipedalian vocabulary is good.
Actually, Torp is quite a common name in Norway. I was at a party just a few weeks ago with a woman named Torp.
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