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On Dec 6, 2004, at 8:16 PM, Trevor J. Kenchington wrote:

> Peter Fogg wrote:
>
>> I don't know that its all that interesting, but assume 'ded' is an
>> abbreviation for 'deduced' (reckoning) and 'dead' a mis-writing (or
>> hearing)
>> of 'ded' that has become commonly accepted.
>
> That is commonly suggested (even stated as though it was a confirmed
> truth) but it just doesn't ring true -- to me anyway. As has been
> argued
> often enough before, abbreviating "deduced" to "ded" would be typical
> of
> 20th century practice but the expression "dead reckoning" goes back
> much
> further to times when abbreviations and acronyms were far less
> prevalent.
>

Actually, I believe abbreviations were used more commonly in the 18th
Century than now, when we tend to use acronyms.  Examples are Yrs for
Yours, acc't for account, Rob't for Robert, etc.

Now whether or not it should be "dead" or "ded" reckoning, and whether
"ded" is short for deduced, I know not.

Fred

   

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