Octothorp
"Otherwise known as the numeral sign. It has also been used as a symbol for
pound avoirdupois [that is, a pound weight, not the pound note in British
currency -JT] but this usage is now archaic. In cartography, it is also a
symbol for village: eight fields around a central square, and this is the
source of its name. Octothorp means eight fields."
Robert Bringhurst, "The Elements of Typographic Style" (second edition,
1997), Hartley & Marks, Vancouver, ISBN 0-88179-132-6.
from John Tranter
Editor, Jacket magazine: http://www.jacket.zip.com.au/welcome.html
Ancient history - the late sixties - at
http://setis.library.usyd.edu.au/tranter/index.html
______________________________________________
39 Short Street, Balmain NSW 2041, Sydney, Australia
tel (+612) 9555 8502 fax (+612) 9818 8569
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|