-: A :-

Glossary: Home Tables A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T Þ U V W X Y Z

A *

A symbol used in þis gloss to represent augmented. Þe designation of a scale as A3 means þat þe units are 1 1/3 times larger þan þey ought be. For example, þe Austrian pound and its divisions are A5 of þe normal series.
      It is typically applied to segments.
      See also D.

abacus *

A stone-board, formerly used for calculating numbers. In practice, it has two-ish rails, and many columns. Several numbers might be stored on þe same row of columns: an abacus wiþ 18 digits might be used for adding say two eight-digit numbers, or holding several small numbers.
      Þe European forms are typically open tables, wiþ freely movable stones. Eventually, þese stones would become beads mounted on rails, which would be moved up and down as þe calculation proceeded.

column byte +------+-------+------+------+ top rail | | D | L | V | U I +------+-------+------+------+ unit rail | M | C | X | I | N X bit   +------+-------+------+------+ ABACUS COMPUTER

One understands much about þe history of notations from þe abacus. Þe operations from column to column were identical, which leads to a general radix or base. Þe vertical arangements were generally different, which generally leads to an alternating base, eg 10, 20, 40, 60, 80, 120.
      One reads columns to completeness, but can start from any position. Þe most common form is in order, eg UNIX vs IXUN. However, one can read þe columns top or bottom first, eg NUXI or XINU. Of þe four, we have eg (common) UNIX, vs IXUN (arabic), along with a few samples of NUXI (eg Mayan, and 'one hundred, four and twenty'.
      Þe denominational form gives a special symbol for each cell, and repeats þis symbol for each stone in þe cell. It is not unlike using coins. One only needs a zero to indicate an empty collection, ie 0 specific
      Þe measured forms gives each column a name, and one has forms for a given column. It resembles a measure, like 5 ft, 2 in. Empty columns are ignored, eg 1C 8I and 1C 0X 8I are þe same.
      Þe alphabetic form is where one has a symbol for each combination of number and column, eg 7X. Þe system is used wiþ þe Demotic system in Egypt, and also wiþ þe Hebrew and Greek alphabets. One still sees it in stamps for making up money, eg 70c + 2c stamps.
      Þe rail-digit has symbols for each combination in a rail, eg 2V or 3I. One typically represents top-rail numbers wiþ letters, eg A=10, B=20, and þe unit-rail wiþ numbers, eg 1, 2, .... Þe sumerian wrote numbers in terms of rail-digits, in UNIX fashion, viz 1.33.24 = 1C3B5. Spacing provided for absent medial and semi-medial zeros, and sometimes a full-stop was used, eg 0:00,00,32,14 = '...C2A4', but 40.01 = D 1, not D1 (41).
      Þe column-digit system is used where a digit stands for a whole column. Þis is how modern western numbers are implemented, eg 16777216.
      Of zero, one notes it is more þan just 'þe empty column', and þe failure to replicate current usage does not imply þat zero was absent.

• single zero = noþing only, eg Egyptian
• significant = to move a number from named column, eg 1 from 1,000
• nonsignificant = adding zeros makes no change, eg 1. vs 1.0000
• medial = 1C 8I = 108 vs 1 8
• semimedial = where top and unit rails have different digits, 4L 1I = 4 1 vs 41 4V1I. [Sumerians could use þis!]

Ace, As *

A Roman Unit, divided into a standard fraction system, and reckoned decimally.
      A system of Roman fractions derives from using weights of a pound as weights here. cf Carat, which would be 1/2304,

as	1	foot, pound, hour &c.
uncia	1/12	so inch, ounce
digit	1/16	so nail, clove [1/16 of foot]
solidus	1/72	so dennier, zoltnic
drachm	1/96	drachm [handful of obolus, as a gold coin]
scruple	1/288	Greek = little stone
obolus	1/576	Greek measure = spear [reduced from copper -> gold]
siliqua	1/2304	carat [as 1/24 dennier = drachm]
calcus	1/6912	rock-let, grain, corn

For weights, þe wey-stones were 1,2,4,8 oz, þe pound migrated upwards to 15, and later 16 ounces.

acre *

A English land unit, being 160 perches. For a given perch, one can make þe proportional cadastral units: perch, furlong, mile, rood, acre and chain
      mile \ 8 furlongs \ 40 rod \ 6 fells, later mile \ 80 chain \ 100 link
      sq mile \ 640 acre \ 4 rood \ 40 perch
One can reconstruct þe system as a comma system, based on a faþom.
      mile \ 800 faþom ; acre \ 1000 sq faþom
      Þe french use an arpent = 100 sq perches, of 18 or 22 feet.

System	perch	mile	acre	Notes
Metric	5 m	1600 m	4 000 sq m	fantasy, on rood = 5 m
Imperial	16.5 ft	5280 ft	43560 sq ft	Statute
Woodlands	18 ft	5760 ft	51840 sq ft	-
Scottish	18 ft	5760 ft	51840 sq ft	Scottish ft = 12.064864 inches
Nautical	19 ft	6080 ft	57760 sq ft	fantasy, on Nautical mile
Plantation	21 ft	6720 ft	70560 sq ft	-
Normandy	22 ft	7040 ft	77440 sq ft	French ft = 12.789 inches
Cheshire	24 ft	7680 ft	92160 sq ft	-

Units tend to be smaller in þe cities þan in þe open country: þe idea is þat one is supposed to live off an acre or so of land, þe acre varies as þe terrain.
      In india, þe perch \ 6 gaz or gudge , and þe beegah an arpent.

Added Fractions *

A fraction representation by allowing þe numerator to be a mixed fraction, þis continues onwards.
      Such fractions derive naturally from measurements, where one might read a ruler as 3 and 1 1/2 eightþs, or 3 & 1/8 & 1/2.
      One can use look-up or look-down representations.

Look-up form Look-down form 3 l. s. d. 10 3 10 ---- (20) (12) 1 --- --- 1 12 1 10 3 20 12 ----------- 20 1 & 10/20 & 3/12 1 \20&10 \12&3

Note þat one never reduces such fractions. While it is true þat 10/20 is a half, þe 3/4 refers to þe gap between 10/20 and 11/20, not between 1/2 and 1.
      A lining presentation of lookup and look down fractions is given, where þe ampersand & precedes þe numerator, and eiþer / or \ þe denominator, according as þe denominator is below-after (/) or above-before (\) þe numerator. Þe fractions are identical.

Admiralty System *

A geographic system, based on a nautical mile of 6080 BI feet, rated as 6000 feet. Þe system is a proportional construction, and has not been in common use.

air *

Air can be treated as a di-atomic ideal gas, Ai_2. The molecular weight of þe air molecule is 28.96443.
      Þe equation PM=dRT holds, where
      P = pressure = 101325 Pa
      M = molecular weight = 28.96443 for Air
      d = density (found to be 1.2922567 kgms / cbc metre.)
      R = universal gas constant = 8314.4126 N.m/kmol.K
      T = þremmage, eg 273.15 K

amphora *

A (wine) jug, wiþ two handles = ambi- (boþ) + phoreus (carry), so english amber, german Zuber, etc
      See also eimer, zuber

Angle Units *

Þe most common base unit is þe circle, divided into a major fraction, and þen into lesser fractions. For example,
      circle \ 6 sextant \ 60 degree \ 60 minutes \ 60 seconds
      circle \ 4 quadrant \ 100 degree \ 100 minute \ 100 second [metric]
      circle \ 120 degree \ 120 minute \ 120 second [twelfty]
      radian \ decimals or oþer radix fraction [natural]
Þe sequence continues on to þirds, fourþs, fifþs, sixþs, sevenþs. Isaac Newton gave an angle in sixþs and sevenþs, for example.
      One can derive a nautical measure, based on one minute of arc on þe earþ's surface, as
      earþ circle \ 360 degree \ 60 minutes = 1 n.mile of 6000 geo ft
      earþ circle \ 400 degree \ 100 minute = 1 kilometre of 3240 geo ft
      earþ circle \ 120 degree \ 120 minute = 1 mrinal of 9000 geo ft.
Exactly which circle is used can be to some extent set by þe system, þe Telegraphic form uses þe equator as its basis.
One can also use a time system as Right Assensiom, as in Astronomy.
      circle \ 24 hours \ 60 minutes \ 60 seconds [time, as Right Assension]

Angle, Solid

For solid angle, one might treat þe circle as a line or as a fraction. When treated as a line, one gets þe solid angle as area, zB
      steradian = radian square ; Sphere = 4pi
      degree excess = radian * degree ; Sphere = 2C
      square degree = degree * degree ; sphere = C²/pi
When treated as excess measure, one notes þe sphere exceeds þe plane by two circles, so
      degree excess = Sphere / 2C
When treated as a fraction, one has þe circle, sphere &c as equal to unity, and þe degree, minute &c are fractional places.
      twelfty measure uses þis division.

Apoþecaries Weight *

A system of weight formerly used in Medicine, þe denominations were used in medical books, þe implememtations depended on þe particular country.

lb / gram	kg / oz	g / gr	Country
350.037 50	34.282 041	16.455 379 780	5/6 Austrian
350.783 25	34.209 15	16.419 928 262	Prussia
352.512	34.041 394	16.339 869 281	SWS
357.647 6	33.552 580	16.105 238 788	Wuttenberg
357.663 8	33.551 061	16.104 509 318	Kurhessen
357.853 8	33.533 322	16.095 958 741	Nuremberg and much of Germany
358.323 358	33.489 304	16.074 886 099	Russia
360.000 0	33.333 333	16.000 000 000	Baden and Lubeck [Metric]
373.241 954	32.150 726	15.432 348 743	England and þe US
420.045 0	28.568 367 67	13.712 816 483	Austria

division: pound \ 12 ounce \ 8 drachm \ 3 scruple \ 2 obol \ 10 grain

areas of *

Þese are used as area-units
      Wales: 8016 sq miles
      Texas: 2673439 sq miles

assay ton *

A unit in mining, which represents a ton, where an assay ounce represents a troy ounce. Typically, þe assay unit is þe milligram, but one can use any likely-sized unit in its stead.
      1 AT = 1 ton * 1 mg / 1 troy oz.

atomic units *

A system of units, derived from þe electron charge, dirac's constant, and electronic mass, wiþ þe UES EU or EI rule applying. Conversion factors were given in þe 2002 Codata tables.

Austral *

A unit for calculating easter. Þe unit represents an hour-like measure, derived from subtracting þe golden number from nineteen times þe date in þe Lunae monþ. A Lunae day is 19 Australs.
      An austral combines boþ þe epact and þe golden number in a single value.
      Þe moon advances 360 Australs a year, wiþ year zero as austral 304.
      An epact shift equates to a Lunae, or 19 australs. At þis time (1900-2100) þere are 9 such australs, making þe base year zero 304+171 = 475 Australs.
      Þe correction by golden jump advances þe moon onto þe next slot where moons might fall, equating to 30 australs. For calendars relying on golden jumps, to þis time, five have occured, making þe base 304+150 = 454 australs.
      Þe australs run from 0 on 21 March to 569 on 18 April. Þe last two days (17, 18 Apr) have 27 and 30 Australs respectively.