English words for @

[Steve K.]

On Wed, 28 Jun 2000, Thomas Paikeday wrote:

> I believe "the at symbol" would be the enduring name for it.
> I am reminded of "the number sign" [#] which at
> one time was called "the octothorpe,"
> by Ma Bell I think, but it apparently didn't take.

My first phonetics teacher (and the person responsible for
getting me into lexicography), Richard Spears, always referred
to the # as an octothorpe in phonetics class. I don't know
if that was idiosyncratic, but I've always associated the use
of # in phonetics with the term octothorpe.


--- Steve K.