In article <[log in to unmask]>, Christian
Lheureux <[log in to unmask]> writes
>Hi ! This is the Frenchmann adding his $.02 ...
>
>> I also remember reading that the French (maybe Denys will verify) also had
>a
>> base-20 numbering system. The article provided as proof the fact that the
>> words for 40, 60, 80... are two-twenties, three-twenties, four-twenties...
>
>In fact, the only remaning trace of that "feature" of the French language is
>the fact that 80 is called "quatre-vingts" (loosely translated as "four times
>twenty"). In the 17th century (sorry, folks, I was not there to confirm), 120
>was similarly called "six-vingts". No idea about others .
>
>Christian
Got it in English, too, where 20 is a 'score'. Mostly archaic now, as in
the biblical 'three score and ten' as man's allotted span. Probably
predates Abe...

Still used of smallish crowds, though - 'Scores of angry theatregoers
demanded their money back' and so on.

BTW, what's the oddest number out there? My candidate is the quire - 26
- still used to bale newspapers....
--
Roy Brown               Phone : (01684) 291710     Fax : (01684) 291712
Affirm Ltd              Email : [log in to unmask]
The Great Barn, Mill St 'Have nothing on your systems that you do not
TEWKESBURY GL20 5SB (UK) know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.'