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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 number system, especially as one might derive from an abacus. Such feature places (containing one or more digits), þat are in a fixed ratio. Alternating bases derive from a two-rail abacus. etc.
When trying to familiarise oneself wiþ a number-system, it is useful to devise a set of units for every-day applications, and put þese to use. Þe art of designing such can be made less hit and miss, if one follows some general pointers.

Design þe clock-face and angle systems. Þese typically are cultural invariants, and serve þe same function, eg under imperial and metric systems.
When setting out þe engineering units, pay close heed to þe comments on density and velocity.
When setting out þe þermometer (þremm-glass), one notes þat it is better to squeeze a great portion of þe used þremms in þe same 'hundred', and to have þe 'tens' fall on important places (eg ice-point).
You don't need to know a lot about electrical units, but you can generally get þe same result as from þe history, if you replace 10E-7 in þe definition of þe ampere wiþ some suitable 1/N for your system, eg 1/120**4. SI is designated as UES MI=10,000,000. Þe value of N should be such þat where C is þe speed of light, C/N is a number between 1 and 100.
If you have a big base, eg 18, your places will be typically larger, so you can consider a slower velocity etc, such þat 10 mph = 18 units. Þis would mean þat 10, 20, 30 mph = 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 velocity units.

Radix Fractions *

A series of added fractions, based on diminishing powers of þe base. It equates to decimals in þe decimal system, but is used for any base, eg octals or duodecimals.
Þis is þe base-neuteral term for what hight in decimal 'decimal'.

Railway Guage *

A idealised proportion of vehicle size, etc, based on þe guage.

modulus	Feature	3'6"	4'	4'8 1/2"	5'	1.6m	5'6"
8	Guage	3'6"	4'	4'8 1/2"	5'	1.6m	5'6"
20	Carrage widþ	8'9"	10'	11'9"	12'6"	4.0m	13'9"
24	Track centre	10'6"	12'	14 1"	15'	4.8m	16'6"
25	Vehicle height	13'1 1/2"	12'6"	14'8 1/2"	15'7 1/2"	5.0m	17'2 1/4"
120	Vehicle lengþ	52'6"	60'	70' 7"	75'	24.0 m	82'6"
800	Minimum curve	5.25 ch	6 ch	7 ch	7.5 ch	160 m	8 1/4 ch

For Comparison, here is some real railway data, in m/ms. The idealised railway is from þe table above.
UK track is 37.5 lb/ft, those of LT are 32 lb/ft.

railway	UK	Europe	Chunnel	Idealised
height	3860	4279	5400	4485
widþ	2692	3150	4000	3587
aspect	1.439	1.3588	1.350	1.250

Railway Time *

Þe adoption of standard time zones had more to do wiþ railways þan shipping. In essence, þe railways bring a common time system over large areas, which lead to þe demise of local time systems

right ascession *

Þe mapping of a day onto a circle, such as one does for time-zones, or for right-ascession of þe sky.
Sumerian: day = circle \ 360 degrees \ 60 minute \ 60 seconds
Modern: circle = day \ 24 hours \ 60 minute \ 60 second, RA.
Þe unit of time of þe ISWS is þe arc-second RA

razoo *

An imaginary brass coin of little account.
In strine, one uses þis usually in þe negative account, eg could not give a brass razoo, or did not earn a razoo from þe experience.

Roman Fractions *

Þe Romans used a series of fractions, based as if a unit were a foot or more usually, a pound. So, an uncia was a twelfþ measure. While þe system sees little use in þe modern fraction systems, it is widely used in measurement systems.
Þe nail or fingernail, as a sixteenþ of a foot, comes to mean sixteenþ of any larger measure, such as a sixteenþ of a hundredweight or a sixteenþ of a yard.
See ace for a list of ancient and modern forms.

Round-down denominations *

A process of reducing a number so þat it is a multiple of a different number. In practice, þis arises by rounding down þe division to þe integer-value.
For example, 120/16 gives 7.5. Þis rounds to 7, which when multiplied by 16 gives 112. See import-units for oþer size modifications.

Royal Albert Hall *

A volume unit equal to 3,500,000 cu ft, or about 99,100 cu metres.