abacus是什么意思

abacus

英 ['æbəkəs] 美 ['æbəkəs]

来自拉丁语 abacus，而拉丁语又来自于希腊语 abax, 表示 counting board（计算板）之意，后用于表示“算盘”，而算盘一般认为是中国人发明的。

abacus: abacus: [17] Abacus comes originally from a Hebrew word for ‘dust’, ’ābāq. This was borrowed into Greek with the sense of ‘drawing board covered with dust or sand’, on which one could draw for, among other purposes, making mathematical calculations. The Greek word, ábax, subsequently developed various other meanings, including ‘table’, both in the literal sense and as a mathematical table.

But it was as a ‘dust-covered board’ that its Latin descendant, abacus, was first used in English, in the 14th century. It was not until the 17th century that the more general sense of a counting board or frame came into use, and the more specific ‘counting frame with movable balls’ is later still.
abacus (n.): late 14c., "sand table for drawing, calculating, etc.," from Latin abacus, from Greek abax (genitive abakos) "counting table," from Hebrew abaq "dust," from root a-b-q "to fly off." Originally a drawing board covered with dust or sand that could be written on to do mathematical equations. Specific reference to a counting frame is 17c. or later.

2. Except for the sharp clicking of Chueh - hsin's abacus counters, all was still.: 房里只有算盘珠子的接连的、清脆的响声.