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Why is 'number' abbreviated as 'no' when there is no 'o' in number?
Question
#34133. Asked by PUZZLER. (May 21 03 5:28 PM)
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Tabby Tom
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'No' represents the Latin 'numero', the ablative case of 'numerus', which is the word for number. Thus 'No 6' means 'six by number' or 'six in numerical order'.
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KingTT
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Also, it's worth noting that 'lb' to stand for pound comes from the latin libra pundum, where Libra (the zodiac sign) meaning The Scales. Dunno where oz for ounce came from, though. Probably something similar.
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mibmob
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It comes from uncia - a scribal corruption where the u becomes o and the z is not a z but a contraction of the other letters. It's like viz is a contraction of videlicet and the z is part of the scribal contraction.
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