Q: "portagraion" -- a "mathematical instrument" circa 1745?

[Douglas G. Wilson]

>What is a "portagraion", in the following quotation from 1745?  I've
>done my best in OED2 and googling with various possible
>spellings.  The mention just before of drawing pens suggests
>"pantograph", but that's not close to what I see.
>
>Stephen Greenleaf, Mathematical Instrument-Maker...;Makes and mends
>all Sorts of Mathematical Instruments, as Theodolites, Spirit Levels,
>Semicircles, Circumferences, and Protractors, Horizontal and
>Equinoctal [sic] Sun Dials, Asimuth and Amplitude Compasses,
>Elliptical and Triangular Compasses, and all Sorts of common
>Compasses, drawing Pens and Portagraions...; with sundry other
>Articles too tedious to mention.

Probably = "port-crayon" (also "porto-crion") (French "porte-crayon")
meaning a crayon holder (OED). "Crayon" was sometimes spelled "craion" (OED).

-- Doug Wilson


--
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
Version: 7.1.375 / Virus Database: 267.15.2/251 - Release Date: 2/4/2006

------------------------------------------------------------
The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org