Off-topic informational anti-spam anecdotal

From: D. Peschel <dpeschel_at_u.washington.edu>
Date: Fri Jul 24 01:27:33 1998

> > The thing actually has an official name, but I doubt many people still use
> > it. Its an "octothorpe"!

> You mean those little 'prongs' sticking out on the four sides are
> "thorpes"? How 'bout that! Learn something new every day. :)

No, the squares framed by the lines are "thorpes." The unmarked square is not
a thorpe.

1 | 2 | 3
---+-----+---
4 | | 5
---+-----+---
6 | 7 | 8

At least, that's the way I understand it. Apparently the symbol was used on
maps to denote small villages. Also apparently, the symbol depicts a village
surrounded by eight crop fields; this relates to the name ("octo" + "thorpe" =
"eight" + "field"). I thought the word "thorpe" (as used in English place-
names) referred to the village itself, but I could be wrong.

Whatever the story, octothorpe DOES seem to be the official name!

-- Derek
Received on Fri Jul 24 1998 - 01:27:33 BST