28 January 2009

etymo note: @ الربع

02.Ii.1430


The @ symbol comes via portuguese "arroba," from the arabic word "Al-rub`" pronounced Ar-rub` (=quarter,one fourth). The glyph has been used in iberian practice since the 18th cent. to denote the much older spanish unit of measure (11th cent.).

Known in English as the @ sign, it is called in French "L'arobase "
and equivalently: arrobase, arrobe, arobas, arrobas or "a commercial"

According to http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/@ The name originates from the Portuguese unit of weight and capacity measure.

Just to save time I quote:

"Ce terme vient de l'arabe الربع (ar-rubʿ, « le quart », un quart de quintal, soit 25 livres, poids équivalent à 11,502 kg – 12,5 kg en Aragon)."


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