hash marks

[Wilson Gray]

Given that a hash mark is much shorter than the yard line that it
crosses, that may have motivated the shift from "line" to "mark," not
to mention that a hash mark literally *marks* a specific spot along
the yard line.

-Wilson

On 9/2/07, Sam Clements <SClements at neo.rr.com> wrote:
> ---------------------- Information from the mail header -----------------------
> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       Sam Clements <SClements at NEO.RR.COM>
> Subject:      Re: hash marks
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Unless I've screwed up, the on-line OED only has "hash marks" from 1909, and
> it referred to military markings--[1909 Man-o' Warsman Dec. 24/1 First
> Sergeant John J. Maloney earned another *hash-mark.]
>
> M-W/HDAS  have that military useage back to 1907.
>
> HDAS has the football use from 1949, where it was referred to as "hash
> lines."
>
>
> Sam Clements
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Douglas G. Wilson" <douglas at NB.NET>
> To: <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Sent: Sunday, September 02, 2007 2:01 PM
> Subject: Re: hash marks
>
>
> > >Why are hash marks on a football field called 'hash marks'?
> >
> > One might like to check the on-line OED (not immediately available to
> > me). The usual dictionaries etc. are generally uninformative
> > (including my poor-man's OED).
> >
> > Here is my notion; perhaps some of the savants can correct it.
> >
> > "Hash mark" = "one of a series of more-or-less parallel lines". This
> > term is used in football, basketball, hockey, etc., I think. "Hash
> > marks" also refers to the little line segments ("tick marks") along
> > the edge of a ruler or around the periphery of a clock face. Also to
> > service stripes (parallel line segments) on (e.g.) a uniform sleeve.
> >
> > I don't know the exact word history but I suppose maybe the original
> > "hash marks" = "hachure marks" (usually parallel or radiating lines)
> > on topographic maps and the like. "Hachure" = "hatching" is of course
> > from French. I find "hachure line" in appropriate sense in English
> > from 1856 on brief Google, "hachure mark" and "hash mark" in the same
> > sense more recently.
> >
> > One can see examples of various hash/hachure marks by using Google
> > Images (e.g., <<hachure-marks>>, <<hash-marks>>).
> >
> > -- Doug Wilson
> >
> >
> > --
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> > 12:59 PM
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