abacus

Meaning

Noun

• A table or tray scattered with sand which was used for calculating or drawing.
• A device used for performing arithmetical calculations; a table on which loose counters are placed, or an instrument with beads sliding on rods, or counters in grooves, with one row of beads or counters representing units, the next tens, etc.
• The uppermost portion of the capital of a column immediately under the architrave, in some cases a flat oblong or square slab, in others more decorated.
• A board, tray, or table, divided into perforated compartments for holding bottles, cups, or the like; a kind of buffet, cupboard, or sideboard.

Related

Narrower meaning words

• soroban
• suanpan

Origin

• From Late Middle English abacus, abagus, agabus, from Latin abacus, abax (compare Late Latin abacus), from Ancient Greek ἄβαξ, possibly from a Semitic source; compare Hebrew אבק and Phoenician -𐤀‬𐤁𐤀‬𐤒. The English word is cognate with Catalan àbac, Old French abac, Middle French abaque (French abaque), Italian abaco, Portuguese ábaco, Spanish ábaco. abaque.
• The plural form abaci is from Latin abacī.