What Is The @ Symbol Called?

im_lostim_lost TWG Rule Guru Join Date: 2003-04-26 Member: 15861Members
Exactly like the title says, what is the @ symbol called? The & is called an ampersand, and the # is called an octothorpe (I think), but nobody seems to have a name for it, except for the "at symbol," but that can't be it's real name.

Comments

  • RellixRellix Join Date: 2003-02-15 Member: 13572Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
    @ means at, thats why yourname@isp.com is that way, ie joeblogs at hiswebsite . We use it in school in accounts ie 1200items @ £3.50 each.
  • JimmehJimmeh Join Date: 2003-08-24 Member: 20173Members, Constellation
  • Cr-ckCr-ck Join Date: 2003-09-14 Member: 20873Members
    edited November 2003
    I could be used as a letter too <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->

    @ for a

    Example: <span style='color:red'>lets not dodge the swe@r filter</span>
  • im_lostim_lost TWG Rule Guru Join Date: 2003-04-26 Member: 15861Members
    I know it means "at." However, the symbol existed before it was used for that. That symbol was picked because it was an unused symbol on the keyboard, and so it was given a purpose. I was wondering if anyone had the official name for it.
  • MausMaus Join Date: 2002-11-03 Member: 5599Members
    edited November 2003
    Actually it's ampersat, the same way as & is ampersand.

    "According to Berthold L Ullman in his 1932 book Ancient Writing and Its Influence, the symbol was created by calligraphers in the 8th century as a shortcut for the Latin word ‘ad’, which meant near, to, towards or at. The symbol was used in the Mediterranean about 500 years ago. The Spanish used @ to signify an ‘arroba’ which was a measure (between about 11 and 15 litres) of the capacity of terracotta jars used for transporting wine and oils. ‘Amphora’ was the term used by the Greeks for such containers. Along the northern Europe trading routes, the symbol developed its contemporary commercial meaning ‘at a price of’. In 1880, @ made its appearance as a typewriter key and, in 1971, it was first used as a separator in an email address."
  • MonsieurEvilMonsieurEvil Join Date: 2002-01-22 Member: 4Members, Retired Developer, NS1 Playtester, Contributor
    <a href='http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=commercial%20at' target='_blank'>http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=c...commercial%20at</a>

    <!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--><character> "@". ASCII code 64. Common names: at sign, at,
    strudel. Rare: each, vortex, whorl, INTERCAL: whirlpool,
    cyclone, snail, ape, cat, rose, cabbage, amphora. ITU-T:
    commercial at.

    The @ sign is used in an electronic mail address to separate
    the local part from the hostname.

    It is ironic that @ has become a trendy mark of Internet
    awareness since it is a very old symbol, derived from the
    latin preposition "ad" (at).

    Giorgio Stabile, a professor of history in Rome, has traced
    the symbol back to the Italian Renaissance in a Roman
    mercantile document signed by Francesco Lapi on 1536-05-04.

    In Dutch it is called "apestaartje" (little ape-tail), in
    German "affenschwanz" (ape tail). The French name is
    "arobase". In Spain and Portugal it denotes a weight of about
    25 pounds, the weight and the symbol are called "arroba".
    Italians call it "chiocciola" (snail).
    <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    So there you have it. If you want to be extra hip with your friends you can now say 'Just email me: monsieurevil little ape-tail natural-selection.org'.

    <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->
  • CrystalSnakeCrystalSnake Join Date: 2002-01-27 Member: 110Members
    <!--QuoteBegin--i'm lost+Nov 9 2003, 11:25 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (i'm lost @ Nov 9 2003, 11:25 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Exactly like the title says, what is the @ symbol called?
    <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    In German, we call it "Klammeraffe", which means "spider monkey" <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->
    <a href='http://dict.leo.org/?search=klammeraffe&searchLoc=0&relink=on&spellToler=standard&sectHdr=on&tableBorder=1&cmpType=relaxed&lang=en' target='_blank'>Proof</a>
  • Amped1Amped1 Join Date: 2003-02-08 Member: 13287Members
  • QuaunautQuaunaut The longest seven days in history... Join Date: 2003-03-21 Member: 14759Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
    Monse: Wouldn't you say monsetheguy strudel aol.com?
  • MonsieurEvilMonsieurEvil Join Date: 2002-01-22 Member: 4Members, Retired Developer, NS1 Playtester, Contributor
    Right after you said 'ohmygodiha4xedj000@teenangst.tv'

    <!--emo&::nerdy::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/nerd.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='nerd.gif'><!--endemo-->
  • GadzukoGadzuko Join Date: 2002-12-26 Member: 11556Members, Constellation
    Is that address taken?
  • The_ThingThe_Thing Join Date: 2003-02-25 Member: 13993Members
    In Chinese they call @ the little mouse....
  • DOOManiacDOOManiac Worst. Critic. Ever. Join Date: 2002-04-17 Member: 462Members, NS1 Playtester
    Something I always wondered but never bothered to ask! Thanks.

    Now someone explain the origins of the tilde! ~
  • LikuLiku I, am the Somberlain. Join Date: 2003-01-10 Member: 12128Members
    <!--QuoteBegin--Quaunaut+Nov 9 2003, 03:42 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Quaunaut @ Nov 9 2003, 03:42 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Monse: Wouldn't you say monsetheguy strudel aol.com? <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Or...

    StoppingTeenangst@ForumUltimate.com?
  • DubersDubers Pet Shop Boy Edinburgh, UK Join Date: 2002-07-25 Member: 998Members
    <!--QuoteBegin--Cr/-\ck+Nov 9 2003, 10:34 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Cr/-\ck @ Nov 9 2003, 10:34 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> I could be used as a letter too <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->

    @ for a

    Example: <span style='color:red'>lets not dodge the swe@r filter</span> <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Woo hoo hoo pwnt!
  • LemurZoboomafooLemurZoboomafoo Join Date: 2002-11-10 Member: 8131Members
  • Cr-ckCr-ck Join Date: 2003-09-14 Member: 20873Members
    rofl

    Example #2: @$...discontinues
  • Smoke_NovaSmoke_Nova Join Date: 2002-11-15 Member: 8697Members
    cool.

    Amphora were originally Greek, but like all things Greek, they were then used by the Romans.

    useless trivia from Latin I.
  • Mr_HeadcrabMr_Headcrab Squee&#33;~ Join Date: 2002-11-20 Member: 9392Members, Constellation
    hmmm cool, I didnt know all th@
  • RenegadeRenegade Old school Join Date: 2002-03-29 Member: 361Members
    <!--QuoteBegin--MonsieurEvil+Nov 9 2003, 02:38 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (MonsieurEvil @ Nov 9 2003, 02:38 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> So there you have it. If you want to be extra hip with your friends you can now say 'Just email me: monsieurevil little ape-tail natural-selection.org'. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Y'know MonsE, there may come a time when someone misinterprets your sense of humor, hunts you down, and beats you with a stick. <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif'><!--endemo-->
  • GeminosityGeminosity :3 Join Date: 2003-09-08 Member: 20667Members
    edited November 2003
    <b>edit:</b> I just posted in completely the wrong topic... oop =s
  • SoulSkorpionSoulSkorpion Join Date: 2002-04-12 Member: 423Members
    I've <i>always</i> known it as "at", even before the internet became big. I recall seeing written on a chalkboard something to the effect of "Strawberries @ (insert price here) each".

    <!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I could be used as a letter too

    @ for a<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    d13 f00l! 3v3ry0n3 kn0wz 7h47 17'5 "4", n07 "@". n00b <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->
  • spidermonkeyspidermonkey @ Join Date: 2003-09-13 Member: 20810Members
    <!--QuoteBegin--CrystalSnake+Nov 10 2003, 06:38 AM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (CrystalSnake @ Nov 10 2003, 06:38 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin--i'm lost+Nov 9 2003, 11:25 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (i'm lost @ Nov 9 2003, 11:25 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Exactly like the title says, what is the @ symbol called?
    <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    In German, we call it "Klammeraffe", which means "spider monkey" <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->
    <a href='http://dict.leo.org/?search=klammeraffe&searchLoc=0&relink=on&spellToler=standard&sectHdr=on&tableBorder=1&cmpType=relaxed?=en' target='_blank'>Proof</a> <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->
  • Soylent_greenSoylent_green Join Date: 2002-12-20 Member: 11220Members, Reinforced - Shadow
    edited November 2003
    in swedish it's a "snabel a", an a with a trunk(as in elefant trunk).

    "gift" is also a pretty weird word in swedish, it means both married and poison(go figure <!--emo&:0--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wow.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wow.gif'><!--endemo-->).
  • Spyder_MonkeySpyder_Monkey Vampire-Ninja-Monkey Join Date: 2002-01-24 Member: 8Members, NS1 Playtester, Contributor
    That's it, I'm changing my name to simply... @. Refer to me as such from this day on.
  • That_Annoying_KidThat_Annoying_Kid Sire of Titles Join Date: 2003-03-01 Member: 14175Members, Constellation
    <!--QuoteBegin--DuBERS+Nov 9 2003, 07:35 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (DuBERS @ Nov 9 2003, 07:35 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin--Cr/-\ck+Nov 9 2003, 10:34 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Cr/-\ck @ Nov 9 2003, 10:34 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> I could be used as a letter too <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->

    @ for a

    Example: <span style='color:red'>lets not dodge the swe@r filter</span> <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Woo hoo hoo pwnt! <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    yup

    thats good times







    Syder is now @

    O_O
  • Cereal_KillRCereal_KillR Join Date: 2002-10-31 Member: 1837Members
    what a spider monkey and a spyder monkey oO

    It's called arobase here.
  • GadzukoGadzuko Join Date: 2002-12-26 Member: 11556Members, Constellation
    Looks like you have another custom title to write down, TAK.
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