Number Crunching

[Marsha Alley]

I worked with that type of calculator when I first began my career in 1966.  And, yes, the sound was a crunch, although I can't remember if we called it number crunching at that time.  Bean counting, yes.  

Marsha 


  ---------------------- Information from the mail header -----------------------
  Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU<mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>>
  Poster:       Erik Hoover <grinchy at GRINCHY.COM<mailto:grinchy at GRINCHY.COM>>
  Subject:      Re: Number Crunching
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  It strikes me on reading this that there is a less-strained metaphor if
  "crunching numbers" and "number-crunching" refer originally to the
  mechanical calculators or "adding machines" that were once commonplace
  in business.

  The noise of such devices can be quite, ah, crunchy.

  Any retired accountants in the house?

  Erik