Octothorpe

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈɒktəʊθɔːp/

Definitions

1. A symbol consisting of two horizontal and two vertical intersecting lines commonly used to denote numbers or labels
2. A graphic character made of intersecting straight lines forming a grid, often found on telephones and keyboards to indicate special functions
3. A sign composed of two pairs of parallel lines crossing each other, frequently employed as a marker in text or as a hashtag on social media

Etymology: The "octothorpe" name is one of the few technical terms whose origin is genuinely unsettled, and its coinage is usually credited to Bell Labs engineers in the late 1960s or early 1970s, when the symbol was added to telephone keypads. Its eight prongs, or the eight ends of the lines meeting at the symbol, explain the "octo" part, which nearly everyone agrees on. Beyond that, accounts from people at Bell Labs conflict, so the rest is open to question. The second half, "thorpe," is the real puzzle. The traditional-sounding derivation from "thorpe," meaning a small village or hamlet, has no evidence behind it. One proponent of a different explanation was a fan of the athlete Jim Thorpe, so the name may nod to him, but the most likely answer is that "thorpe" was simply a syllable picked for the sound, with no meaning attached.

Synonyms: hashtag, pound sign