Jun 25, 2012 12:22
11 yrs ago
English term
for oughts
English
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"Do you see that mainmast there?" pointing to the ship; "well, that's the figure one; now take all the hoops in the Pequod's hold, and string along in a row with that mast, for oughts, do you see; well, that wouldn't begin to be Fedallah's age. Nor all the coopers in creation couldn't show hoops enough to make oughts enough."
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Jun 25, 2012 12:22: changed "Kudoz queue" from "In queue" to "Public"
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noughts
Here "oughts" are "noughts" in the sense of "zeros".
He's saying that the hoops are circles and therefore zeros.
ought (n.)
"zero, cipher," 1844, probably a misdivision of a nought (see nought; for misdivision, see N); meaning probably influenced by aught "anything."
http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=ought&allowed_in_fr...
He's saying that the hoops are circles and therefore zeros.
ought (n.)
"zero, cipher," 1844, probably a misdivision of a nought (see nought; for misdivision, see N); meaning probably influenced by aught "anything."
http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=ought&allowed_in_fr...
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