from: http://www.askoxford.com/asktheexperts/faq/aboutsymbols/atsign
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the origin of the @ sign, and does it have a proper name?
This sign originated as a scribe's quick way of writing the Latin word
ad, especially in lists of prices of commodities. It is usually known as
`the at sign' or `the at symbol', which is good enough for most people.
It is sometimes called `commercial a', and occasionally by the French
name arrobe or arroba. It has acquired various nicknames in other
languages, but none has so far caught on in English.
Rita Bronnenkant
Reference Librarian
Gibbons, DelDeo, Dolan, Griffinger & Vecchione
One Riverfront Plaza
Newark NJ 07102
(v) 973-596-4500 x3791
(f)973-639-6349
-----Original Message-----
From: Kathy Carlson [mailto:KCARLS@state.wy.us]
Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2003 4:59 PM
To: law-lib@ucdavis.edu
Subject: Trivia Question
This is really a client curiosity question (that got the
librarian's curiosity as well). I have done some searching in our
dictionaries, in the style books we have, as well as on the web
("typographic symbols" ) and have as yet been unsuccessful in finding an
answer.
Does the @ symbol have a name? [Like & = Ampersand]
Thanks
Kathy Carlson
Wyoming State Law Library
Supreme Court Building
2301 Capitol Avenue
Cheyenne, Wyoming 82002
Phone: (307) 777-7509
Fax: (307) 777-7240
E-Mail: kcarls@state.wy.us
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